Journal article
The Influence of Outcome Desirability on Optimism
Psychological bulletin, Vol.133(1), pp.95-121
01/2007
DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.133.1.95
PMID: 17201572
Abstract
People are often presumed to be vulnerable to a
desirability bias
, namely, a tendency to be overoptimistic about a future outcome as a result of their preferences or desires for that outcome. In this article, this form of wishful thinking is distinguished from the more general concepts of motivated reasoning and overoptimism, and the evidence for this bias is reviewed. The authors argue that despite the prevalence of the idea that desires bias optimism, the empirical evidence regarding this possibility is limited. The potential for desires to depress rather than enhance optimism is discussed, and the authors advocate for greater research attention to mediators of both types of effects. Nine possible mediational accounts are described, and critical issues for future research on the desirability bias are discussed.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Influence of Outcome Desirability on Optimism
- Creators
- Zlatan Krizan - Department of Psychology, University of IowaPaul D Windschitl - Department of Psychology, University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Psychological bulletin, Vol.133(1), pp.95-121
- Publisher
- American Psychological Association
- DOI
- 10.1037/0033-2909.133.1.95
- PMID
- 17201572
- ISSN
- 0033-2909
- eISSN
- 1939-1455
- Grant note
- name: National Science Foundation, award: SES 99-11245 and SES 03-19243
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/2007
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984214742202771
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