What is unrealistic optimism?

Jefferson, Anneli ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1870-1361, Bortolotti, Lisa and Kuzmanovic, Bojana 2017. What is unrealistic optimism? Consciousness and Cognition 50 , 3--11. 10.1016/j.concog.2016.10.005

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	English, Communication and Philosophy
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	1053-8100
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	21 October 2019
Date of Acceptance:	5 October 2016
Last Modified:	07 May 2023 00:10
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/126107

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