Comparing personal and social optimism biases: magnitude, overlap, modifiability, and links with social identification and expertise
Abstract Individuals are more optimistic about their own future than a comparable person’s future (personal optimism bias). In addition, they show overoptimism toward people or social groups they identify with compared with those they do not identify with (social optimism bias). However, commonaliti...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer Nature
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00913-8 |
| _version_ | 1819148645954486272 |
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| author | Tatjana Aue Mihai Dricu Dominik A. Moser Boris Mayer Stephanie Bührer |
| author_facet | Tatjana Aue Mihai Dricu Dominik A. Moser Boris Mayer Stephanie Bührer |
| author_sort | Tatjana Aue |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Individuals are more optimistic about their own future than a comparable person’s future (personal optimism bias). In addition, they show overoptimism toward people or social groups they identify with compared with those they do not identify with (social optimism bias). However, commonalities and differences between personal and social forms of optimism bias remain to be addressed. Data from an experiment on anticipated performances in soccer (including 160 participants), revealed (a) comparable magnitudes of personal and social optimism biases, and (b) only partial overlap between personal and social optimism biases. We further found the magnitude of the biases to depend on (c) prior experience in the investigated area. Social optimism bias, however, did not correlate with (d) the extent to which the participants identified with a social in-group. In addition, we demonstrate that (e) despite the availability of objective feedback, both personal and social optimism biases are hard to overcome. Our data further suggest (f) the existence of qualitatively different social optimism biases; biases that can possibly be distinguished by their degree of automaticity or the adoption of a more affective vs. utilitarian stance. Consequently, the present research reveals that the phenomenon of social optimism bias needs further refinement to adequately address its specific sub-components. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T13:49:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d0f3ced938994938bcbb9ae5af6674be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-9992 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T13:49:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-d0f3ced938994938bcbb9ae5af6674be2022-12-21T18:23:44ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922021-10-018111210.1057/s41599-021-00913-8Comparing personal and social optimism biases: magnitude, overlap, modifiability, and links with social identification and expertiseTatjana Aue0Mihai Dricu1Dominik A. Moser2Boris Mayer3Stephanie Bührer4Institute of Psychology, University of BernInstitute of Psychology, University of BernInstitute of Psychology, University of BernInstitute of Psychology, University of BernInstitute of Psychology, University of BernAbstract Individuals are more optimistic about their own future than a comparable person’s future (personal optimism bias). In addition, they show overoptimism toward people or social groups they identify with compared with those they do not identify with (social optimism bias). However, commonalities and differences between personal and social forms of optimism bias remain to be addressed. Data from an experiment on anticipated performances in soccer (including 160 participants), revealed (a) comparable magnitudes of personal and social optimism biases, and (b) only partial overlap between personal and social optimism biases. We further found the magnitude of the biases to depend on (c) prior experience in the investigated area. Social optimism bias, however, did not correlate with (d) the extent to which the participants identified with a social in-group. In addition, we demonstrate that (e) despite the availability of objective feedback, both personal and social optimism biases are hard to overcome. Our data further suggest (f) the existence of qualitatively different social optimism biases; biases that can possibly be distinguished by their degree of automaticity or the adoption of a more affective vs. utilitarian stance. Consequently, the present research reveals that the phenomenon of social optimism bias needs further refinement to adequately address its specific sub-components.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00913-8 |
| spellingShingle | Tatjana Aue Mihai Dricu Dominik A. Moser Boris Mayer Stephanie Bührer Comparing personal and social optimism biases: magnitude, overlap, modifiability, and links with social identification and expertise Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| title | Comparing personal and social optimism biases: magnitude, overlap, modifiability, and links with social identification and expertise |
| title_full | Comparing personal and social optimism biases: magnitude, overlap, modifiability, and links with social identification and expertise |
| title_fullStr | Comparing personal and social optimism biases: magnitude, overlap, modifiability, and links with social identification and expertise |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparing personal and social optimism biases: magnitude, overlap, modifiability, and links with social identification and expertise |
| title_short | Comparing personal and social optimism biases: magnitude, overlap, modifiability, and links with social identification and expertise |
| title_sort | comparing personal and social optimism biases magnitude overlap modifiability and links with social identification and expertise |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00913-8 |
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