Dispositional optimism (DO) and optimistic bias (OB) in risk perception are two distinct phenomena and previous studies about their reciprocal relationship report contrasting results. In the present ...study, we focused on the relationship between DO and OB when reporting the personal and the other persons' risk about COVID-19. We hypothesized that, when facing a largely uncontrollable risky situation (like the recent pandemic), dispositional optimists would defensively increase their OB about the current risks. A convenience sample of 414 Italian participants aged 18 or older were recruited. They completed a questionnaire investigating past protective behaviors, DO, perceived personal and other persons' COVID-19-related risk. Results of the mixed regression model showed that more optimistic people were more likely to underestimate their COVID-19 personal risk over the other's person risk. These results shed light on the relationship between different forms of optimism and provide useful insight about the potential implications of risk communication approaches to face the current pandemic.
•Dispositional optimism and optimistic bias are two distinct phenomena.•They are both linked to risk perception.•More dispositionally optimistic people report higher optimistic bias for COVID-19.
What is unrealistic optimism? Jefferson, Anneli; Bortolotti, Lisa; Kuzmanovic, Bojana
Consciousness and cognition,
April 2017, 2017-04-00, 20170401, Volume:
50
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
•There are a number of controversial questions regarding the nature and causes of unrealistic optimism.•We argue that unrealistically optimistic cognitions should be considered beliefs rather than ...desires or hopes.•Optimistically biased beliefs are frequently false but establishing falsity in individual cases is difficult and sometimes impossible.•Optimistically biased beliefs are epistemically irrational because they are unwarranted and their responsiveness to counter-evidence is limited.
Here we consider the nature of unrealistic optimism and other related positive illusions. We are interested in whether cognitive states that are unrealistically optimistic are belief states, whether they are false, and whether they are epistemically irrational. We also ask to what extent unrealistically optimistic cognitive states are fixed. Based on the classic and recent empirical literature on unrealistic optimism, we offer some preliminary answers to these questions, thereby laying the foundations for answering further questions about unrealistic optimism, such as whether it has biological, psychological, or epistemic benefits.
Taking Stock of Unrealistic Optimism Shepperd, James A.; Klein, William M. P.; Waters, Erika A. ...
Perspectives on psychological science,
07/2013, Volume:
8, Issue:
4
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Researchers have used terms such as unrealistic optimism and optimistic bias to refer to concepts that are similar but not synonymous. Drawing from 3 decades of research, we discuss critically how ...researchers define unrealistic optimism, and we identify four types that reflect different measurement approaches: unrealistic absolute optimism at the individual and group levels and unrealistic comparative optimism at the individual and group levels. In addition, we discuss methodological criticisms leveled against research on unrealistic optimism and note that the criticisms are primarily relevant to only one type: the group form of unrealistic comparative optimism. We further clarify how the criticisms are not nearly as problematic as they might seem, even for unrealistic comparative optimism. Finally, we note boundary conditions on the different types of unrealistic optimism and reflect on five broad questions that deserve further attention.
The main aim of this research was to examine the role of optimism-pessimism, general trust and belief in conspiracy theories, in COVID-19 related fears, preventive and hoarding behaviors. We also ...examined the role of different sources of information in these relations. The convenience sample was used (N = 412) and it consisted of individuals from Serbia (N = 292) and Latin-America (N = 120). Following instruments were used: The Life Orientation Test (Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, 1994), Trust in people scale (Arbor, 1964), questions regarding fear, source of information, preventive behaviors and conspiracy constructed for the purposes of this research. The results suggest that fear of food shortage was the most pronounces one in both samples, followed by fear for oneself and finally by the fear for beloved others. Results suggest that optimists, those with high level of general trust and those who do not believe in conspiracy theories show lower level of fear and higher level of preventive behaviors. Pessimists on the other hand, show higher level of fear. Fear was related to all information sources suggesting that more information leads to higher intensity of fear – except information from the president which did not show any effect.
Dispositional optimism is the generalized, relatively stable tendency to expect good outcomes across important life domains. This article provides a representative review of 30 years of research on ...dispositional optimism and physical well-being. Assessment of optimism is described, along with data regarding its stability. A review of the research linking optimism and physical health is then presented. Included in the review are initial studies suggesting that optimism and physical well-being might be linked as well as more recent, larger scale epidemiological studies that make the point more emphatically. Also considered are potential pathways-behavioral, biological, and social-that might explain these associations. The article concludes with a brief look to the future, describing several issues and questions that still need to be answered. These questions include the relationship of optimism and pessimism to each other (and the implications of that relationship for physical well-being), the origins of optimism and pessimism, and interventions that might be implemented to reduce the negative impact of a pessimistic outlook.
Never, Ever Give Up Hahn, William S
The New American (Belmont, Mass.),
08/2023, Volume:
39, Issue:
16
Journal Article, Magazine Article
Sometimes you merely plant a seed, and other times you reap a harvest. The Declaration of Independence clarifies the purpose of government: to safeguard God-given rights. The Founders expected us to ...be involved, so let's start there. The John Birch Society has helped protect the foundation of this constitutional Republic time and time again. Rather, we fight an organized foe with organization that rallies around an action-based agenda. Get on board with a bunch of optimists and make a difference!
Introduction
Individuals’ beliefs about COVID-19 pandemic may affect their health-related behavior including self-isolation. “Positive” beliefs may be realistic (constructive belief that efforts help ...to prevent infection and spread of the virus) or rose-colored glasses (defensive belief that coronavirus problem is exaggerated aimed to cope with anxiety) with different consequences for behavior and mental health.
Objectives
Objectives: The aim was to develop the scales of defensive and constructive optimism towards COVID-19 pandemic (DCO-Covid) and analyze their psychometric properties, factor structure using CFA, internal consistency and validity.
Methods
The sample comprised 1403 university students (68% women, M=20.59, SD=3.66) from large cities of Russia. Online survey conducted from 10/4/2020 till 25/4/2020. Test battery included the scales of constructive and defensive optimism (each of 3 items) and measure of dispositional optimism (LOT-R, Scheier et al., 1994). Part of the sample (N=306) completed anxiety in a pandemic questionnaire (Tkhostov, Rasskazova, 2020).
Results
CFA indicated a good fit for the two-factor model (χ
2
=27.11, df=8, p<.001, CFI =.985, TLI=.971, RMSEA = .041, pRMSEA≤.05 = .78) with negative correlations between factors (–.28). Cronbach’s alpha for defensive optimism and constructive optimism were α=.75 and α=.70 respectively. As expected constructive and defensive optimism correlated with dispositional optimism (r=.24; p < .001 and r=–.06; p<.05 respectively) and anxiety (fear of infection, r=.08; n.s and r= –.23; p < .001).
Conclusions
The results show that DCO-C is a reliable measure of defensive and constructive optimism towards COVID-19 pandemic. The construct validity of these scales is confirmed by CFA and obtained correlations.
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