Mr Gallagher sent me this article. It is about the human tendency to be overly optimistic about one's future. This is unlike people with clinical depression, who are pessimistically biased about the future. But what is interesting is that when it comes to predicting future events, those who have mild depression are more accurate than others. The optimism bias prevents us from developing depression, but make us less realistic about the future.
The optimism bias
6 Comments
Tarn
6/5/2011 12:19:04 am
This is very interesting Mr. Hansson, although it basically implies that reality is depressing.
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Mr Hansson
6/5/2011 12:39:30 pm
Thanks for your comment. I thought this article would interest you, because of your interest for positive psychology. You are making a very good point. I guess reality just is, but the perception of it can be either optimistic or pessimistic. I am not sure that I like that the author equates optimism with bias, because it is apparently a good thing. I have heard many times that one has to be realistic and so on, but apparently it is better to be optimistic.
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New
6/5/2011 03:03:20 pm
Hey Mr. Hansson, i just read the article and it strongly reminds me of the notion of kitsch(Kundera's theory of mankind).
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New
6/5/2011 03:28:50 pm
MR. HANSSON! i have a suggestion for your blog. Is it possible for you to move ALL this into a Facebook Page? Call the Psyc blog or anything. The things you post here are really interesting and very capable of expanding our overall knowledge of things. I just thought that with all the commenting and discussions that will be happening in the near future, Facebook seems to be the most efficient medium for it. Please consider this idea. And i've talked to book, mac, tarn, sheena, moon etc that we're all willing to keep it ALIVE and ACTIVE. Not that your blog is flawed or anything. i just thought that it'd be much more easier for us to get involved with your blog, with facebook. Pleasee reply and let me know what you think about moving this whole HANSSON's BLOG OF KNOWLEDGE to facebook. we're more than willing to help or assist you in anyway.
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Tarn
6/6/2011 01:45:53 am
I agree with New, Mr. Hansson. It'd be much more active on facebook. Plus, these are all articles worth sharing :)
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Mr Hansson
6/6/2011 05:40:56 pm
Tarn and New. Thank you for your concern. I will consider it. I have seen how a friend on facebook always links to his blog on facebook. Perhaps I could do something similar? I could start up a facebook page, and from there I link to all the new articles here. That might be a way to do it. I will try to figure out how to do it myself, but if I can't I might have to ask for your help.
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AuthorThis is my class blog for IB Psychology. Here I will publish reflections on psychology, reviews of psychology books, recommended links, lecture notes, and information on psychology topics that are not covered by the syllabus. You are free to add comments or ask me questions. Archives
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