(Too) optimistic about optimism: the belief that optimism improves performance

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Elizabeth R TenneyDon A Moore

Abstract

A series of experiments investigated why people value optimism and whether they are right to do so. In Experiments 1A and 1B, participants prescribed more optimism for someone implementing decisions than for someone deliberating, indicating that people prescribe optimism selectively, when it can affect performance. Furthermore, participants believed optimism improved outcomes when a person's actions had considerable, rather than little, influence over the outcome (Experiment 2). Experiments 3 and 4 tested the accuracy of this belief; optimism improved persistence, but it did not improve performance as much as participants expected. Experiments 5A and 5B found that participants overestimated the relationship between optimism and performance even when their focus was not on optimism exclusively. In summary, people prescribe optimism when they believe it has the opportunity to improve the chance of success-unfortunately, people may be overly optimistic about just how much optimism can do.

Citations

Aug 11, 2016·Consciousness and Cognition·Vera HoorensConstantine Sedikides
Aug 21, 2016·Cognitive Psychology·Punit ShahUlrike Hahn
Jul 7, 2020·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·David de Meza, Chris Dawson
Jul 21, 2020·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Dominik Andreas MoserTatjana Aue
Oct 28, 2019·Psychological Reports·Cirilo H Garcia CadenaAdrián Valle de la O
Jan 23, 2021·Cognition·Corey Cusimano, Tania Lombrozo
May 12, 2020·American Journal of Surgery·Gregory D Kennedy, Sarah Tevis
Jul 21, 2021·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Corey Cusimano, Tania Lombrozo
Sep 3, 2021·Psychological Science·Jane E MillerPaul D Windschitl

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