Positive illusions are unrealistically favorable attitudes that people have towards themselves or to people that are close to them. Positive illusions are a form of self-deception or self-enhancement that feel good, maintain self-esteem or stave off discomfort at least in the short term. There are three broad kinds: inflated assessment of one's own abilities, unrealistic optimism about the future and an illusion of control. The term "positive illusions" originates in a 1988 paper by Taylor and Brown.
There are controversies about the extent to which people reliably demonstrate positive illusions, and also about whether these illusions are beneficial to the people who have them.
Read more about Positive Illusions: Types, Origins, Benefits and Liabilities, Negative Counterparts, Mitigation, See Also
Famous quotes containing the words positive and/or illusions:
“I believe, as Maori people do, that children should have more adults in their lives than just their mothers and fathers. Children need more than one or two positive role models. It is in your children’s best interest that you help them cultivate a support system that extends beyond their immediate family.”
—Stephanie Marston (20th century)
“It is natural to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes to that siren until she “allures” us to our death.”
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)