5 ms·

Moderating optimism is overrated. Most people should make an effort to be more optimistic, due to our biological negativity bias. That will serve them better.

by hallqv 3y ago

ramraj07 3y ago
Do you have any academic or even non academic reference for this so called biological negativity bias? My entire life experience has been that people are too optimistic for their own good not the other way around.
- jibe 3y ago
  Negativity bias is pretty well researched and supported. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652533/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652533/
- spacebanana7 3y ago
  See the loss aversion literature in economics https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_aversion https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_aversion
- Jommi 3y ago
  public optimism being the apparent majority can still be true even if overall our decisions and inner thoughts sway to majority pessimism
  - hallqv 3y ago
    Public opinion definitely veers towards over-pessimism, see for example Hans Rosling book Factfullness. Here is a short summary from a psychological perspective: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/sex-murder-and-the-meaning-life/202112/10-biases-blind-us-world-getting-better https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/sex-murder-and-the...
- cassepipe 3y ago
  Which if true suggest that a slight tendency to negativity has served an evolutionary purpose: survival. It would be in line with the fact that you've noticed people who got in trouble for being overly optimistic ("too optimistic for their own good") On the other hand, you may also think that is serves little purpose in a civilized society (by which I mean a society where making a mistake/a judgment error is not punished by death by your environment) and may be a hindrance in your life. I don't have an opinion about it in general but I do think humanity is being overly optimistic about its ability to stop/tame climate change while aiming at achieving/conserving a way of life that relies on energetic abundance. It looks very much like collective denial to me. It's like hearing a addict telling he can stop tomorrow if he really wants. Let's hope I am wrong because if I am right it's not gonna be pretty, it's already not looking great.
- WalterBright 3y ago
  Too optimistic? Most people in America today seem to be claiming to be hapless victims.
ggm 3y ago
Yes, I do tend to agree, but on some things (AGW geohacking) I'm less sure. Mostly I agree. Maybe it's best to moderate euphoria and stick to wry humour in dark times.
- hallqv 3y ago
  I agree, rational optimism is the way
  - ggm 3y ago
    I guess to orbit back, the "rational" bit here is "the evidence supports it" (I still think we're in survivor bias but considering the other fork I'll take this one)

Moderating optimism is overrated. Most people should make an effort to be more optimistic, due to our biological negativity bias. That will serve them better.

by hallqv 3y ago

Moderating optimism is overrated. Most people should make an effort to be more optimistic, due to our biological negativity bias. That will serve them better.

ramraj07 3y ago

Do you have any academic or even non academic reference for this so called biological negativity bias? My entire life experience has been that people are too optimistic for their own good not the other way around.

jibe 3y ago
Negativity bias is pretty well researched and supported. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652533/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652533/
spacebanana7 3y ago
See the loss aversion literature in economics https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_aversion https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_aversion
Jommi 3y ago
public optimism being the apparent majority can still be true even if overall our decisions and inner thoughts sway to majority pessimism
- hallqv 3y ago
  Public opinion definitely veers towards over-pessimism, see for example Hans Rosling book Factfullness. Here is a short summary from a psychological perspective: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/sex-murder-and-the-meaning-life/202112/10-biases-blind-us-world-getting-better https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/sex-murder-and-the...
cassepipe 3y ago
Which if true suggest that a slight tendency to negativity has served an evolutionary purpose: survival. It would be in line with the fact that you've noticed people who got in trouble for being overly optimistic ("too optimistic for their own good") On the other hand, you may also think that is serves little purpose in a civilized society (by which I mean a society where making a mistake/a judgment error is not punished by death by your environment) and may be a hindrance in your life. I don't have an opinion about it in general but I do think humanity is being overly optimistic about its ability to stop/tame climate change while aiming at achieving/conserving a way of life that relies on energetic abundance. It looks very much like collective denial to me. It's like hearing a addict telling he can stop tomorrow if he really wants. Let's hope I am wrong because if I am right it's not gonna be pretty, it's already not looking great.
WalterBright 3y ago
Too optimistic? Most people in America today seem to be claiming to be hapless victims.

ggm 3y ago

Yes, I do tend to agree, but on some things (AGW geohacking) I'm less sure. Mostly I agree. Maybe it's best to moderate euphoria and stick to wry humour in dark times.

hallqv 3y ago
I agree, rational optimism is the way
- ggm 3y ago
  I guess to orbit back, the "rational" bit here is "the evidence supports it" (I still think we're in survivor bias but considering the other fork I'll take this one)