ABSTRACT

The theoretical basis for this argument comes from our work on positive illusions (Taylor, 1989; Taylor & Brown, 1988). A substantial literature attests to the existence of cognitive illusions, modest biases in the construal of personally relevant information that have the effect of representing one’s situation and oneself somewhat more favorably than may be justified. Specifically, we have found that among those coping with the normal hassles of daily life, as well as those coping with more intensely stressful events, there is a tendency to view the future more optimistically than objective circumstances can justify, to maintain that one has a higher degree of personal control over one’s situation than might be justified by objective facts, and to modestly inflate one’s attributes and char­ acteristics in a self-enhancing direction. These mild, positive biases have been observed across a variety of populations in a variety of settings and appear to characterize the majority of individuals going through these experiences.