The Ups and Downs of Optimism

The city of Higuera de la Serna went bankrupt, and its neighbors, instead of complaining, got to work to take on the responsibilities which the municipality used to perform but now could simply not handle. In their spare time, they all offered their help to take on work, from cleaning to masonry. This case is just one more proof that during complicated times, when people come together it can awaken optimism despite the circumstances. The neuroscientist Tali Sharot from the University College of London, affirms that in the same way in which we experience optical illusions, sometimes we think we see something that is very different from our reality, because we succumb to other types of illusions. Some examples of the illusions we suffer include: The illusion of superiority that makes us think we are better than the average person. This happens particularly frequently in the academic field, where over 97% of people think the are superior. Which is impossible, that's why it's an illusion. “I have my own version of optimism. If I cannot walk through one door, I will walk through another or make another door. Something wonderful will come, regardless of how dark the present may be.” -Rabindranath Tagore- The illusion of introspection refers to our belief that our motives are based on something. That is to say, that whenever we do something, we do it for a reason, when in reality there are times that no reason or motive exists. We simply create a motive to try to explain to ourselves why we are doing that particular thing. The optimistic bias refers to overestimating our possibilities of living positive experiences and underestimating our chances of experiencing negative ones. Hence, we end up overestimating our longevity or our professional success and underestimating the chances that our relationship will end or that we will fall ill. Advantages of optimism The optimistic bias has many advantages and disadvantages. Some advantages include: Health. Being optimistic favors and promotes our health. There are two main reasons behind this: if we expect the future to provide us with good things, this reduces our stress and anxiety. For example, an optimistic patient tends to do things that make him or her healthier. They follow the doctor's advice, take care of themselves more and generally their commitment to their treatment is stronger. Achieving objectives. Optimism can lead you to have higher academic achievements and the accomplishment of your goals. Because if you think that everything is going to be fine after something bad happens, you will scare off discouragement. Studies about optimism have shown that people who share this bias work more hours, persevere more and end up earning more money. “No pessimist has ever discovered the secret of the stars, nor have they sailed through unknown waters, nor have they opened a door to the human spirit.” -Hellen Keller- Thus, optimism is especially positive when it is accompanied by a self-control and self-efficacy. When it is subtle and not exaggerated, and when we put it into play in situations in which we have room to maneuver. Disadvantages of optimism But optimism, although it has some very important advantages, can also have a negative side. It has the following disadvantages: If we think that everything is going to be okay, we might not take necessary precautions. We don't do certain medical tests as often as we should, we don't wear a helmet or a seat-belt when we are riding around, or don't look before we cross the road because we think that nothing bad is going to happen. That is to say, we often find a distorted sense of invulnerability in optimistic people. Someone who is optimistic thinks that they are going to finish the activities they need to do much earlier. When it comes to school as well as tasks at work. They underestimate the time and effort they will require. Optimism is especially negative when it prevents us from taking action. Be it because it can lead to the inhibition of preventive measures, or because it is usually subject to faith in chance more than faith in oneself. How to distinguish an optimist from a pessimist Many studies have been conducted on optimism and pessimism. In one study, students were given an exam and the optimists that didn't pass were not disappointed, because they thought that they would do better next time. The pessimists felt worse, because they thought that their score proved that they couldn't pass the exam. On the other hand, the optimistic students that did pass the exam thought that they had done a great job. They also predicted that they would do well in the next exam. Meanwhile, the pessimists who passed the exam thought that it had merely been due to luck. Therefore, an optimist doesn't get discouraged over not achieving a goal. Instead, they get motivated to continue and do better next time. The biggest difference between an optimist and a pessimist is that the former always knows how to take advantage of something that would seem like a problem for somebody else. “You are as old as your doubts and as young as your confidence in yourself." -Samuel Ullman-