Multiple research has shown that optimism has a dark side too. Not only it can lead to poor outcomes, but it makes us underestimate risks or take less action. For example, positive affirmation might work for positive people but have detrimental consequences for those with low self-esteem — they result in worse moods.

What are the negative effects of optimism?

Some ways that optimism can be detrimental include: Optimism bias: Sometimes excessive optimism can lead people to overestimate the likelihood that they can experience good things while avoiding bad things. The optimism bias suggests that people often underestimate their risk of experiencing negative outcomes.

Is too much optimism a bad thing?

Over-optimism can cloud our minds and lead us to miscalculate risks and make unsound decisions. It cause us to falsely assume that positive things are more likely to happen to us than others, and that we are more invulnerable to negative events than the rest.

Is optimism beneficial or harmful?

More than five decades of research have found that optimism is a potent health tonic. Optimistic people remain healthier and live longer. They have better cardiovascular health—even after risk factors are controlled for, stronger immune function, and lower levels of stress and pain.

How do you manage optimism bias?

There are two researched ways of reducing the Optimism Bias (Jolls & Sunstein, 2006): Highlight the Availability Heuristic (make past bad events more easily retrievable from ones memory) and use Loss Aversion (highlight losses that are likely to occur because of these bad events).

Are people born pessimist?

New research has determined that positive and negative attitudes may be hardwired in the brain, raising the possibility of naturally born optimists and pessimists. Moser and colleagues also conducted individual interviews to determine whether subjects were more likely to be positive or negative in everyday life.

What causes optimism bias?

Many explanations for the optimistic bias come from the goals that people want and outcomes they wish to see. People tend to view their risks as less than others because they believe that this is what other people want to see. These explanations include self-enhancement, self-presentation, and perceived control.