Defining Positive Illusions - Report Example

Psychology Name Institution Date Positive Illusions Introduction The term positive illusions originated with Taylor and Brown in 1988. Positive illusions are idealistically promising outlooks that individuals have towards themselves. They are types of self-deception or self-enhancement that feel better, build self-esteem or stave off distress at least for a short period. Research studies have demonstrated that people do really have unrealistically positive views of themselves. Individuals tend to judge positive qualities more typical of self than negative qualities. They tend to experience difficulties remembering negative traits. Individuals tend to remember task performance well than it was. People usually like to believe they have enhanced their performance whereas they haven’t. Individuals usually perceive others as being poor than themselves. They generally give themselves more credit for success than others. People evaluate strangers negatively as compared to friends. They believe they are more probable to experience positive events. They believe they will achieve better results on future tasks. Indeed, it appears that individuals who are depressed or have mental disorders have negative bias (Taylor and Brown, 1988). Benefits of Illusions Positive illusions are associated with psychological well-being. Positive self-appraisals, even if idealistic, promote better mental health. Research studies have demonstrated that cancer survivors have a higher quality of life than individuals who have not experienced cancer at all (Taylor, 1983). Thus, this can be physiologically defensive since they have been capable of using the distressing experiences to induce a better sense of importance and purpose (Taylor et al., 2000). People with positive illusions have the ability to deal with trials and anxiety. There is a correlation between positive illusions and physical health. Research studies have shown that men who are HIV seropositive and have positive illusions of their capabilities to control their health situation do not develop symptoms early, do not face a faster course of sickness and experiences other positive cognitive outcomes, for example, acceptance of a loss (Bower et al., 1998). Another study found out those men who with AIDS and who have positive illusions did not display signs for 6 years (Reed et al., 1999). Research studies have demonstrated that 70-80% of individuals with positive illusions are happy, contented, optimistic and in control of themselves. Those individuals that attribute their achievement on self and disappointment to circumstances have good mood. People who have positive illusions are more possible to assist others, start talks, and discuss well (Taylor and Brown, 1988). Positive illusions seem to enhance memory and problem solving tactics. Self-control, which is achieved through positive illusions, fosters motivation, determination at tasks and enhanced performance. Positive illusions lead to creation of high self-esteem. People with high self-esteem have greater appraisals of future performance. Beliefs in individual effectiveness raise motivation. This why we find out that “helpless” thinking children perform poorly as compared to mastery-centered children. Higher anticipations of accomplishment make individuals to work for more time than usual. In fact, one of the leading causes of depression is idleness. Positive illusions are helpful in dealing with catastrophic events. Individuals are more probable to employ egocentric credits when the behavior is significant to them. When individuals believe they can attain a difficult objective, this anticipation frequently generates a sense of drive and enthusiasm, leading to more improvement. Positive illusions are adaptive since they make it possible for individuals to feel confident in the face of overwhelming risks (Colvin, Block, & Funder, 1995). People with positive illusions are reluctant to provide negative response. Hence, positive illusions make sure that most response is positive. Moreover, individuals indicate how they like to be treated by assuming physical cues and by assuming definite responsibilities. Individuals will habitually seek feedback when they discern it will be positive. Individuals with positive illusions will always choose friends that have attitudes and principles as theirs and this support their own view that their own principles are right. Positive illusions lead to creation of high self-esteem which is a huge advantage of social support. Friends’ agreement on one’s individualcharacteristics can serve as a barrier against disconfirming feedback. Couples with positive illusions experience greater contentment, love, trust and less quarrel and ambivalence (Swami and Furnham, 2008 p.3). People with positive illusions are not distressed when faced with a tough moment; deal with such situations in a manner than promotes better outcomes and are take the right steps to make sure that their futures keep on being brilliant (Carver and Scheier, 2002). Hence, positive self-enhancement, perception of control and optimism are advantageous in their own right. In addition, individual encrypt information constant with their previous beliefs. Pre-existing beliefs influence how one views the importance of new information, particularly if it is vague. Vague information is generally processed to approve individual pre-existing beliefs. Discrepant feedback is frequently perceived as flawed than feedback constant with self-perception. Individuals also do not recall better negative feedback as compared to positive feedback. Even when there is a change in self-perception caused for example by failing an exam, which is generally temporary, individuals move back to their original state. This is known as cognitive drift. Also, individuals with positive illusions may not change from negative feedback as compared to positive feedback. Hence, living with positive illusions may have some permanent disadvantages. For example, people may not be equipped for tragic events or may crush on the rights of other people. Individuals may overgeneralize analysis of events and disregard significant sources of information (Colvin, Block, & Funder, 1995). Disadvantages of Positive illusions Current research studies have demonstrated that all types of illusions, whether positive or not, are linked to more depressive signs (Joiner et al., 2006; Moore et al., 2007). In fact, several research studies have refuted the association between positive illusions and mental health and well-being. They assert that happiness can only be achieved through correct perception of reality (Carsona et al., 2009; Fu et al. 2003). A study by Compton (1992) shows that people who had high self-esteem but negative illusions did not display any signs of depression, neurosis, psychosis, maladjusted or personality disorder. In fact, they were higher on self-effacement and personality assimilation and lower psychosis. Hence, positive illusions are not necessary linked to high self-esteem. Unrealistic self-enhancement is associated with narcissism, which is a personality disorders (Robins and Beer, 2001). Moreover, individuals who have high but unsteady self-esteem levels are more probable to react to personality intimidation with aggression. High self-esteem does not influence school performance. In fact, excellent social skills or task performance is rather associated with raise in risky behavior (Baumeister et al., 1996). Self-enhancement is not associated with better performance. In the short term, generally, individuals who think that did well at a task than they really did, felt content after the task than normal whereas self-enhancers tend to experience more positive feelings about themselves. But this advantage tend to decrease with time showing that their well-being and self-esteem decreases as compared to those with a balance self perception whereas self-enhancers tended to disengage in sectors where they were not achieving the objectives that they had set unrealistically in the first place. Students with positive illusions are also somewhat less probable to graduate college as compared to those with realistic self-evaluations. These demonstrate one of the permanent negative effects of positive illusions on psychological wellbeing (Robins and Beer, 1001). Despite the disadvantages of positive self-perceptions, it is also not healthy to have a more realistic and balanced illusions. It is evidence-based that depressed individuals truly have a more realistic perception of themselves and the universe than mentally healthy individuals. Depression is associated with decreasing positive illusions. People who have low self-esteem or are to some extent depressed have more balanced illusions. Similarly, slightly depressed people are found not to be prone to overestimations of their control of events and to evaluate future situations in prejudiced manner (Coyne and Gotlib, 1983). On the other hand, these findings may not be because depressed individuals have a more realistic and balanced perception as compared to nondepressed people. Research studies have demonstrated that depressed individuals believe they have no control in circumstances where they really do; hence, their view is not more precise in general. Msetfi et al. (2005) found out that the overestimation of control in people were not depressed showed up only when the interval was extended. This means that nondepressed people take more aspects of a circumstance into account than their depressed counterparts. Most of the research studies carried out do not demonstrate how they control realistic perceptions so as to accurately draw that the positive effects experienced by their subjects are really as a result of unrealistic illusions. Conclusion There is an association between positive illusions and psychological wellbeing. Substantial research evidence has demonstrated that positive illusions promote better mental health, as it leads to caring, contentment, productivity and creativity. Positive illusions are especially beneficially when people receive negative feedback and when faced by a threatening situation. However, several prominent researchers have argued that realistic perception of the self, the universe and the future are critical for mental health. They assert that illusions need to be mild and realistic so as to produce positive outcomes. However, more research is needed in actually understanding the positive illusions. Additional research is needed to help understand further as regard how and when unrealistic self-perceptions are formed and importantly, how to make sure that these are developed realistically. Further research is required in understanding the exact situations, exact people and exact spheres in which unrealistic self-perceptions are adaptive and discovery which mechanisms arbitrate unrealistic self-perceptions towards either adaptive or maladaptive outcomes (Robins and Beer, 2001). References Baumeister, R. F., Smart, L. and Boden, J. M. (1996). Relation of threatened egotism to violence and aggression: the dark side of high self-esteem. Psychological Review, 103, 5-33 Bower, J.E., et al. (1998). Cognitive processing, discovery of meaning, CD 4 decline, and AIDS- related mortality among bereaved HIV-seropositive men. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66, 979-986. Carsona, R.C., Hollonb, S.D., Sheltonc, R.C., (2009). Depressive realism and clinical depression Behavior Research and Therapy Volume 48, Issue 4, April 2010, Pages 257-265 Carver C. and Sheier M. (2002) Optimism. In C.R. Snyder and S.J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press. Colvin, C. R., Block, J. & Funder, D. C. (1995). Overly positive self-evaluations and personality: Negative implications for mental health. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68, 1152-1162. Compton, W.C., (1992) Are positive illusions necessary for self-esteem: a research note. Personality and Individual Differences Volume 13, Issue 12, December 1992, Pages 1343-1344 Coyne, J.C., & Gotlib, I. H. (1983). The role of cognition in depression: A critical appraisal. Psychological Bulletin, 94, 472-505. Fu, T., Koutstaal, W., Fu, C.H.Y., Poon, L. and Cleare, A.J., (2003). Depression, Confidence, and Decision: Evidence against Depressive Realism Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment Volume 27, Number 4, 243-252. Joiner, T.E., Kistner, J.A., Stellrecht, N.E., Merrill, K.A., (2006). On Seeing Clearly and Thriving: Interpersonal Perspicacity as Adaptive (Not Depressive) Realism (Or Where Three Theories Meet). Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, Volume: 25 Issue: 5 Pages: 542-564. Moore MT, Fresco DM (2007) Depressive realism: A meta-analytic review. Msetfi RM, Murphy RA, Simpson J, Kornbrot DE (2005) Depressive realism and outcome density bias in contingency judgments: the effect of the context and intertrial interval. Journal of Experimental Psychology. General, Volume: 134 Issue: 1 Pages: 10-22. Reed, G.M. et al. (1999). Negative HIV-specific expectancies and AIDS-related bereavement as predictors of symptom onset in asymptomatic HIV-positive gay men. Health Psychology, 18, 354-363. Robins, R. W. and Beer, J.S. (2001) Positive Illusions about the self: Short-term Benefits and Long Term Costs. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 80, 340-352 Swami, V. and Furnham, A. (2008). Is love really so blind? The Psychologist, 21 (2), 108-111 Taylor, S.E. (1983). Adjustment to threatening events: A theory of cognitive adaptation. American Psychologist, 38, 1161-1173. Taylor, S. E. & Brown, J. D. (1988). Illusion and well-being: A social psychological perspective on mental health. Psychological Bulletin, 103, 193-210. Taylor, S.E., Kemeny, M.E., Reed, G.M., Bower, J.E., & Gruenewald, T.L. (2000). Psychological resources, positive illusions, and health. American Psychologist, 55, 99- 109. Read More

Another study found out those men who with AIDS and who have positive illusions did not display signs for 6 years (Reed et al., 1999). Research studies have demonstrated that 70-80% of individuals with positive illusions are happy, contented, optimistic and in control of themselves. Those individuals that attribute their achievement on self and disappointment to circumstances have good mood. People who have positive illusions are more possible to assist others, start talks, and discuss well (Taylor and Brown, 1988).

Positive illusions seem to enhance memory and problem solving tactics. Self-control, which is achieved through positive illusions, fosters motivation, determination at tasks and enhanced performance. Positive illusions lead to creation of high self-esteem. People with high self-esteem have greater appraisals of future performance. Beliefs in individual effectiveness raise motivation. This why we find out that “helpless” thinking children perform poorly as compared to mastery-centered children.

Higher anticipations of accomplishment make individuals to work for more time than usual. In fact, one of the leading causes of depression is idleness. Positive illusions are helpful in dealing with catastrophic events. Individuals are more probable to employ egocentric credits when the behavior is significant to them. When individuals believe they can attain a difficult objective, this anticipation frequently generates a sense of drive and enthusiasm, leading to more improvement. Positive illusions are adaptive since they make it possible for individuals to feel confident in the face of overwhelming risks (Colvin, Block, & Funder, 1995).

People with positive illusions are reluctant to provide negative response. Hence, positive illusions make sure that most response is positive. Moreover, individuals indicate how they like to be treated by assuming physical cues and by assuming definite responsibilities. Individuals will habitually seek feedback when they discern it will be positive. Individuals with positive illusions will always choose friends that have attitudes and principles as theirs and this support their own view that their own principles are right.

Positive illusions lead to creation of high self-esteem which is a huge advantage of social support. Friends’ agreement on one’s individualcharacteristics can serve as a barrier against disconfirming feedback. Couples with positive illusions experience greater contentment, love, trust and less quarrel and ambivalence (Swami and Furnham, 2008 p.3). People with positive illusions are not distressed when faced with a tough moment; deal with such situations in a manner than promotes better outcomes and are take the right steps to make sure that their futures keep on being brilliant (Carver and Scheier, 2002).

Hence, positive self-enhancement, perception of control and optimism are advantageous in their own right. In addition, individual encrypt information constant with their previous beliefs. Pre-existing beliefs influence how one views the importance of new information, particularly if it is vague. Vague information is generally processed to approve individual pre-existing beliefs. Discrepant feedback is frequently perceived as flawed than feedback constant with self-perception. Individuals also do not recall better negative feedback as compared to positive feedback.

Even when there is a change in self-perception caused for example by failing an exam, which is generally temporary, individuals move back to their original state. This is known as cognitive drift. Also, individuals with positive illusions may not change from negative feedback as compared to positive feedback. Hence, living with positive illusions may have some permanent disadvantages. For example, people may not be equipped for tragic events or may crush on the rights of other people. Individuals may overgeneralize analysis of events and disregard significant sources of information (Colvin, Block, & Funder, 1995).

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