Your Optimism Bias: One of the Best and Worst Tricks Your Brain Plays on You!

DaltheJigsaw

http://lifehacker.com/5911556/your-optimism-bias-the-best-and-worst-thing-your-brain-can-do-for-you

We think we above the law! Or at least I thought I was when I was younger... Boy was I wrong!:)

person

I think I might be one of the %20ers that don't have this. Not that that is a good thing.

Dakini

I don't like the way the article starts out with generalizations that simply aren't true. If people thought smoking leads to cancer for others but not themselves, and the other examples they gave, no one would abstain from smoking, everyone would have poor nutrition, etc. If people thought they would somehow be more successful than others, no one would be motivated to work hard for an education. And Sunday is better than Friday, lol ! It's my favorite day of the week!

In my observation, this misrepresents how people think. This is too simplistic and skewed to hold my interest. But maybe it's just me. :-/

person

@Dakini the TED talk video does a better job of explaining than the article does.

P.S. Sunday is my favorite day too.

Dakini

What's the difference between hope and optimism? We say, "hope springs eternal", but we don't say "optimism springs eternal". Is there a difference? Is it possible to have hope situationally (for one's marriage, for ex.) without being overall an optimistic person?

Floating_Abu

'it possible to have hope situationally (for one's marriage, for ex.) without being overall an optimistic person? '

@Daikini - I believe so.

DairyLama

"Pessimism avoids disappointment"

person

"Pessimism avoids disappointment"

I guess you're half joking but this specific attitude was addressed in the video and shown to not lead to happiness for several reasons.

Diseria

Thank you for sharing @LeonBasin!

It's nice to have words/names to use when noticing them in my mind/brain.

Another level of understanding how powerful the thought/prayer is: "Hope that tomorrow is better than today, even if only in some small way." ...because sometimes that shred of hope was all that kept me wanting to see tomorrow, or deal with all of the preceding hours & minutes..

ThailandTom

I think many people confuse hope with being indenial, and confuse being optismitic with being ignorant and or stupid.

DairyLama

"Pessimism avoids disappointment"

I guess you're half joking but this specific attitude was addressed in the video and shown to not lead to happiness for several reasons.

I guess as a Buddhist I aim for "realism" which you could say is a middle way between pessimism and optimism. Though I am a glass-half-empty type.. :rolleyes:

DaltheJigsaw

Thank you for sharing @LeonBasin!

It's nice to have words/names to use when noticing them in my mind/brain.

Another level of understanding how powerful the thought/prayer is: "Hope that tomorrow is better than today, even if only in some small way." ...because sometimes that shred of hope was all that kept me wanting to see tomorrow, or deal with all of the preceding hours & minutes..

Welcome!

Tanda

porpoise May 20
"Pessimism avoids disappointment"

That reminds me of Woody Allen," The advantage of beig a pessimist is that you can make accurate predictions"

DairyLama

I think many people confuse hope with being in denial.

Yes, though it's more difficult once you've heard the First Noble Truth..