Optimists have worse cognitive function? Study: Excessive "positive thinking" may make people bankrupt and increase the risk of early death
“Positive thinking” and “optimistic attitude” are often linked to a successful life. But is this really the case? According to the latest research in “Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin”, showing an optimistic attitude at any time becomes a kind of “poisonous chicken soup”. In addition to causing a decline in personal cognitive function, it is also related to bad financial situations such as bankruptcy, debt, or serious financial problems. related to low conscientiousness.
Do optimists have worse memory and reasoning skills? Study: Excessive “positive thinking” is harmful to the body and mind
To understand the correlation between optimism bias and cognitive function, a research team from the University of Bath in the UK analyzed data from 26,000 families through a longitudinal survey. The research team first issued a questionnaire, dividing their expectations for the future financial situation into three types of answers: (financial situation) will be better, will not change at all, or will be worse, and it is consistent with the actual financial situation of the future subjects. Compare.
In addition, the research team also tested the subjects’ cognitive abilities, including cognitive skill-based measures such as verbal fluency, memory, numerical reasoning, and reasoning fluency. From the preliminary research results, it can be known that higher cognitive ability is positively related to socioeconomic factors such as education, income, and health; this factor (especially family income), in turn, is associated with overly optimistic and pessimistic beliefs to varying degrees. correlation.
In general, subjects can be divided into five categories based on their degree of optimism: extremely pessimistic, moderately pessimistic, realist, moderately optimistic and extremely optimistic. Judging from the analysis results, the predicted probabilities of “extreme optimism” and “moderate optimism” for those with lower cognitive abilities are 9.5% and 31.6%, while the corresponding estimates for those with higher cognitive abilities are 6.2% and 23.6%, respectively. Decreased 34.8%, 25.2%.
Compared with those with low cognitive abilities, those with high cognitive abilities have 53.2%, 10.1% and 22% higher odds of being “extremely pessimistic”, “moderately pessimistic” and “realistic” respectively. Research suggests that this means that people with higher cognitive abilities will adopt more cautious strategies that are consistent with reality rather than being overly optimistic when it comes to socioeconomic issues such as money issues.
Not only bragging but also shirking responsibility?! Overly optimistic people tend to lack an introspective attitude
“Adopting an overly optimistic attitude towards everything may just be a side effect of low cognitive function!” Chris Dawson, the lead author of the study, said that people with lower cognitive function are more likely to engage in erroneous behaviors such as boasting and misjudging the situation. Especially when people have to make important decisions related to finances, optimism can easily lead them to take things lightly and not measure the seriousness of the situation.
“What’s even more frightening is that when overly optimistic judgments affect the direction of events, optimists often think of it as ‘bad luck’ and use it as an excuse not to take responsibility.” However, Dr. Dawson also emphasized that moderate pessimism It may help people see the situation clearly, but excessive pessimism can also make people stagnant and unable to make correct decisions. He suggests that when making financial decisions, focusing on realistic expectations, that is, “realism,” is more likely to lead to positive results.
Higher risk of early death from accidents? 8 blind spots of overly optimistic people
In addition to deficiencies in money and financial management, the American psychological medical institution “Amen Clinic” also listed the “8 blind spots” of over-optimism and recommended that the public avoid falling into the trap of positive thinking to avoid affecting physical, mental and spiritual health:
Behavior that is excessively risky. Past studies have pointed out that people who often think “Don’t think too much, be happy” have a higher risk of dying prematurely due to accidents or preventable diseases. For example, investing all your money in an industry with which you are not familiar is more likely to deplete your personal savings.
Optimism bias occurs. When you believe that “no bad things will happen to you”, this idea is called optimism bias. For example, you think it is not necessary to buy insurance for your house. However, when floods or fires invade your home, people with optimistic biases may Everything will be lost.
Develop bad habits. Overly optimistic people tend to feel “invincible,” which may make them more susceptible to bad habits. Research has found that overly optimistic people are at higher risk for alcohol abuse; additional research on compulsive gamblers shows that their personalities are often perceived as being overly optimistic.
Don’t learn from your mistakes. The power of positive thinking can make people believe that past violations and illegal behaviors are no big deal, which prevents people from learning from their mistakes and is bound to lead to repeating the same mistakes.
Inability to process emotions. Excessive positive thinking can prevent individuals from solving real-world problems. For example, not actively processing emotions after experiencing a traumatic event can cause an individual to develop mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Block social support. Even when going through difficult times (such as a death in the family, divorce, or financial problems), always underestimating the physical, mental, and emotional impact of the event may prevent you from getting the support you need from family and friends.
Failure to prepare. People who believe things will always fall into place are less likely to have a retirement nest egg or an emergency reserve ready. According to a 2017 study, if people believe that the future will be good but fail to follow a plan and keep working hard, it may prevent their ideals from turning into reality.
Ignore potential warning signs. Believing that “everything will be fine” may prevent individuals from noticing danger signs or ignoring physical symptoms until it is too late when negative consequences occur. For example, an overoptimist may mask marital conflict until the situation becomes so unbearable that the other person is caught off guard by filing for divorce.
“Amen Clinic” suggests that instead of cultivating “positive” thinking, “accurate” thinking is relatively important, which means developing accurate, honest and disciplined thinking habits is an important part of achieving a happy and successful life. The right level of stress or anxiety can help individuals make better decisions, so it’s best to strike the right balance between optimism and precaution before making a decision.
Source:
8 Negatives of Positive Thinking - Amen Clinic
Looking on the (B)right Side of Life: Cognitive Ability and Miscalibrated Financial Expectations
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