I recently came across an article regarding recent research, done in the UK, which showed that in many people (80% of those tested), the brain preferentially processes positive thoughts over negative ones. Of course, that might seem obvious- there's really no mystery as to why we would prefer to remember or accept something positive over something negative. However, in some people, the positive beliefs are maintained even after learning the (negative) truth; in effect, the brain simply rejects the notion that the negative thoughts could be true, and sticks to the positive ones regardless of the reality.
While we'd like to think that we're capable of objectively and logically processing information in order to arrive at an accurate understanding of a situation, our brains themselves might be thwarting the efforts at objective analysis. Most of us have a natural bias in favor of positive news.
Our brain is constantly "testing ... predictions against reality" (Dr. Chris Chambers); in this case, specifically, subjects' brains tested empirical, statistical predictions against their perceived reality, but sided with whichever was more positive.
I would like to see additional evidence for this claim, however, as this study was conducted with only 14 subjects. I do not have doubts about the existence of this tendency, but I'm very curious as to what can be discovered about how or why this tendency developed. Other studies have showed that optimism is good for one's health, and can even contribute to longer lifetimes (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8193180.stm), which makes me wonder about optimism's evolutionary benefits; or, possible disadvantages, as unrealistic optimism can hamper risk-assessment. I also think more in-depth research would be necessary to determine the variation of this tendency among different age groups, as instinctive responses to the idea of death, for example, varies greatly over the course of a person's lifetime. I doubt a group of 14 people was diverse enough to represent the various biases inherent in different ages, genders, or cultural groups.
Furthermore, research published in January of this year showed that there had been serious limitations with previous research on unrealistic optimism, and, though the University College of London study was conducted in June of this year, it is not unlikely that their research suffered the same constraints that earlier studies had.
Abstract (full text- paid access only): http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nn.2949.html#/author-information
Abstract regarding uncertainty about optimism bias' existence:
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In searching for the original research (cited by the BBC article embedded in the last paragraph of the post), I found this study from the same journal "Circulation":
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/meeting_abstract/120/18_MeetingAbstracts/S488-a
It seems bizarre that this study is so comfortable using a term, and testing something, as opaque as "optimism." The abstract to this study clearly defines the variables relative to health, but what about the variables related to "optimism?" How is optimism measured in this study? Should this not be as clearly defined as the health factors?
After reading about all this optimism I decided to look into the brain's relationship with pessimism which led me to this article:
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/rethinking-healthcare/brain-imaging-reveals-pessimism-as-self-fulfilling-prophecy/3238
It talks about an study in which subjects were attached to thermal stimulators which would induce and assess pain. Participants were then injected with a quick-acting pain-killer. Volunteers first told participants that the drug was a placebo and they reported a pain level of 55. When they were told they were receiving the medicine they reported a level of 39. When they were told the pain would get worse they reported a pain level of 64.In all cases the dosage had remained the same. fMRI scans showed that when they were told that pain would get worse there was increased activity in the areas of the brain that control mood and anxiety. The abstract for the study can be found here:
http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/3/70/70ra14.abstract
This study reinforces the idea of "mind over matter" and can help further the effectiveness of patient treatment.It was quite interesting to see how much our minds can control what we experience.
Following this strain on optimism and risk assessment, I came across the abstract for an article speaking vaguely of psychology's optimistic bias on a cognitive level.
http://psr.sagepub.com/content/2/2/100.abstract
We tend to be overconfident in ourselves (our knowledge and ability) as a result of this lean towards optimism, and it is because of this that we stop trying before a real or helpful solution is found, before we can retrieve the right memories or learn what we need to. More or less, our optimism tends to lead us to chew off our own feet.
I have to say that I'm a pessimistic person; it’s pretty ironic how I always prepare myself for the worst to come … so when something really happens I won’t get too upset (but I always get depressed during that process…). I wondered why I always have to think to the worst when I make a decision. Is it because of the way that my parents have taught me to “think before you speak or act”? Or does my cultural background have something to do with this? Then I came across this article that writes about a research that was done on cultural specificity on pessimism on who different races.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0191886996001109
It is strange that there would be a study only relating to women. I found another article:
http://www.livescience.com/58-study-optimists-live-longer.html
that clarifies that optimists do live longer. This study incorporates both male and female subjects and finds that, "Optimism might work better at protecting men than women against all causes of death".
There is no clear reason why but it may be because the study's ability to detect differences favored men because more men died.
In researching what it means to be optimistic, I ran across this little gem. In this experiment, psychologists tested two different groups of people in order to determine how optimism effects negative events and vice-versa.
What I found most interesting, however, was the study's reference to Perloff and Fetzer's (1986-7) idea of "the illusion of unique invulnerability." Rather than being optimistic, a person instead really just thinks "this could never happen to me." In this theory, they call the source "egocentrism." Because we as humans see ourselves as indestructible, we create a paradigm in our mental reality that we cannot be touched, it is only when this is altered, thereby our consciousness is activated again, that we begin to re-evaluate this happy-go-lucky attitude.
I think there must be a balance between people's perception on positivity and negativity in their lives. Of course being optimist about what we face throughout our lives is a good thing. But it must be an approach more than something that actually affects our perception. People need some amount of anxiety and fear in their lives which actually push us to make a move on something. I think a person who perceives the truth, regardless if it is negative, as positive than they wouldn't have the curiosity nor courage to change it. However i think considering the memory, we are tempted to remember positive over the negative. So i made some research memory bias. Sciencedaily says: 'The humor effect states that humorous items are more easily remembered than non-humorous ones.
Positivity effects states that older adults favor positive over negative information in their memories."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/l/list_of_memory_biases.htm
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