ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R
主办:中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

›› 2010, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (11): 1822-1827.

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A Summary of Optimistic Bias

CHEN Rui-Jun;QIN Qi-Wen   

  1. (1 School of Culture and Social Development Studies, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)
    (2 Department of Eduction, Zhengzhou Normal University 450044, China)
  • Received:2010-09-12 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:2010-11-15 Published:2010-11-15
  • Contact: QIN Qi-Wen

Abstract: Optimistic bias means people have a tendency to think that positive evens are more likely to happen to themselves and negative events are more likely to happen to other people. There are two methods to measure optimistic bias, which are direct and indirect comparison. Feature of event and individual factors are the leading influencing factors of optimistic bias. Egocentrism and focalism are the main psychological mechanisms to engender optimistic bias. Optimistic bias has both positive and negative effect to individuals. Future research directions include: (1) developing more scientific and feasible measures; (2) examining optimistic bias on individual level; (3) studying optimistic bias combined with pessimistic bias, and (4) investigating cognitive neuroscience mechanisms of optimistic bias.

Key words: optimistic bias, unrealistic optimism, feature of events, individual factors, psychological mechanism