new study suggests that "unrealistic optimists" shut out information they don't want to hear.

[katty]

more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/10/09/optimism-science-study-shows-optimists-block-out-information.html

The teenager who thinks she can have unprotected sex without suffering any consequences. The alcoholic who thinks he can have one little drink without falling off the wagon. The politician who keeps compromising even though his opponents roll him every time. It’s called unrealistic optimism. (President Obama, whose base sometimes cringes at his readiness to compromise with opponents, is on record as an "eternal optimist.")


In contrast to plain optimism, the unrealistic kind characterizes people who continue to believe there will be a rosy outcome despite clear evidence and even personal experience to the contrary. While reasonable optimism serves us well—it lowers stress and anxiety, and can even reduce the risk of developing various diseases and help us recover faster, according to studies like this one—the unrealistic kind can backfire badly.

[ixion]

1. "unrealistic optimist" = "delusional individual"

Just sayin'...

[TheWraith]

5. Kind of like imagining that you can reform Wall Street without changing the laws?

Or that you can change the laws without engaging in political action?

[katty]

8. ha! indeed

[DJ13]

2. I dont want to hear it

Oh wait......

[SomethingFishy]

3. The "morning zoo" show on my local radio station

was having a field day with this. Apparently, according to the study, there is something not quite right with the frontal lobe of the eternal optimist. The morning folks are a man and woman and she's the optimist. He was having a field day with her "frontal lobe".

As for me, I am a pessimist so I fully support this study and it's findings. :evilgrin:

[Donnachaidh]

4. ooohhhhh

now how many of those types do I know.........:sarcasm:

:rofl: :rofl:

[malthaussen]

6. Either that or a romantic

A romantic is someone who thinks "this time will be different."

-- Mal

[H2O Man]

7. I don't want to hear that nonsense.

[county worker]

9. Too bad about those minimum wage earner unrealistic optimists who don't save for retirement.

This really burns the hide off me. I hate it when they talk about not saving enough for retirement without talking about outsourcing and forcing wages down and stagnant wage growth and the inability to move up the food chain.

How many of us earn enough to save for retirement so that you live comfortably in your old age?


If it were that easy why do we need Social Security and Medicare?