Keeping it Simple

where's my unrealistic optimism?

social psychology mid term exam is next thursday. Came across this concept that i think is very interesting.

Human beings sometimes unrealistically alter the way they perceive the world. Sometimes, its hard to accept the tragic things that happen in life like the occurence of tragic events like rape, terminal illness and fatal accidents.

Of all the kinds of self knowldege that we possess, the knowledge that we are mortal and that bad things can happen to us is perhaps the hardest to accept. (Greenberg, Pysczczynski, & solomon, 1986; Greening & Chandler, 1997)

So we take steps to deny this fact or make it seem less important.

One way we do this is by making defensive attributions, which are explainations for behavior that defend us from feelings of vulnerabilty and mortality.One form of defensive mechanism is unrealistic optimism, believeing that good things are more likely to happen to oneself than to others and that bad things are less likely to happen to oneself than to others. (Harris, 1996; Klein, 1996; McKenna & Albery, 2001; Regan, Synder & Kassin, 1995)

We did an experiment in class to test whether or not we are optimistic and i came out fairly well. i am somewhat depressed and cynical but somehow i dont believe that bad things would happen to me. Similarly, everyone in class felt the same way too! why do we all have this? is it some inbuilt biological and cognitive defense mechanism aimed to shield us from the real world? is this optimisn something that bites us in the ass afterwards?

If we all dont think we are going to get cancer. when we finally do, it comes as an extra shock doesnt it? and the deal is more so than if we had prepared ourself for it. but then again... if we think we would have the slightest chance of getting cancer, that would just spoil all the fun in life aint it? (if there is really fun in life.. )

So having it is a lie and not having it makes us live in fear.

This has only led me to conclude that.... biology is playing a big fat ass joke on us.