Optimistic Bias About Negative Future Life Events

... Unrealistic Optimism About Negative Future Events Antonio Margaritelli arm24@bath.ac.uk PS10087 Instructor: Dr. A. Scott 21.11.2005 Abstract The objective of this study was to examine whether unrealistic optimism was present in 22 risk factors covering areas such as future health and employment. The method employed was a within group design questionnaire, which the participants (72 psychology students) filled in predicting the likelihood of the risk factors occurring for themselves and their average fellow university student of the same age and gender. The findings of this study supported the hypothesis that the students perceived themselves as being less likely to go through these negative events them their peers, showing classic signs of unrealistic optimism. These findings show unrealistic optimism is an important factor to be considered when attempting to get people to engage in self-protecting behaviour. Unrealistic Optimism About Negative Future Events Unrealistic optimism is a well-researched phenomenon referring to the way people tend to overestimate the probability that good

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