Think Better · 45 sec
Optimism bias
A compact thinking tool for spotting patterns and avoiding mistakes.
The useful idea
- The useful idea
Optimism bias is the tendency of an individual to overestimate the likelihood of positive events and underestimate that of negative events.
- How it works
A cognitive bias, the optimistic bias is common across cultures, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, and age groups.
- Why it matters
It has implications to individual and group decision making, public health, policy, economics, and law.
Why this matters
Use Optimism bias as a quick check before trusting your first conclusion.
Try this
Use Optimism bias as a quick check before trusting your first conclusion.
Test your recall
Which idea belongs to the explanation of Optimism bias?
- How it works
- The useful idea — correct
- Why it matters
Optimism bias is the tendency of an individual to overestimate the likelihood of positive events and underestimate that of negative events.