PSY2203 Lecture 9: Optimism and the Human Brain

Question 1

What can neuroscience tell us about why we have this optimism bias?

Answer 1

Found its probably do to reduction of negative future thoughts in our brains.
In fMRI scanner, participants had to think about past / future events in their life and rate these memories on different scales (i.e.) arousal, vividness.
Found positive future events imagined to be in closer temporal proximity than negative future events. This allows us to distance ourselves from negative events and to work towards positive ones.

Question 2

Describe a study which shows how Optimism bias is persistant despite reality challenging unrealistic beliefs.

Answer 2

Sharot et al (2011) fMRI data collected while participants estimated likelihood of experiencing adverse life events. After each estimation, they are told average probability.

They found selective updating. When chances are more optimistic than estimated, remembered better. When chances less optimistic than estimated, brain tries to discard it.