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bias
You believe you are safer from misfortune than everyone else.
The optimism bias leads people to underestimate their personal risk of experiencing negative events like divorce or illness.
In a 1980 study, participants were asked to compare their risk of future misfortune against their peers. Most individuals consistently rated themselves as less likely than the average person to encounter common life problems.
You treat your own life as an exception to statistical probabilities.
Where this comes from
- Study
- Neil Weinstein, 1980, Optimism Bias
- What the check found
- Neil Weinstein's 1980 study 'Unrealistic optimism about future life events' accurately reflects the premise and results described in the claim.
- Confidence
- Well replicated
Related
One of these every day, and every one names the study it came from. When a finding is contested, it says so.