SAGE Reference - Encyclopedia of Social Psychology

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Positive Illusions

In: Encyclopedia of Social Psychology
Edited by: Roy F. Baumeister & Kathleen D. Vohs
Subject:Social Psychology (general)

Definition

Positive illusions refers to a set of three related beliefs that characterize the way people think about (1) themselves, (2) their ability to control environmental events, and (3) their future. Instead of being evenhanded or balanced between the good and the bad, people are unrealistically positive: They believe they have many more positive than negative personal qualities, they exaggerate their abilities to bring about desired outcomes, and they are overly optimistic about their futures. [Page 683]If not too extreme, these positive illusions promote psychological well-being and psychological functioning.

History and Background

Accurate self-views were once thought to be an essential feature of psychological well-being. It is easy to see why. People who harbor delusions of grandeur or believe they control the moon and stars are not paragons ...

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  Baumeister, R. F., & Vohs, K. D. (2007). Positive illusions. In Encyclopedia of social psychology (Vol. 1, pp. 683-684). SAGE Publications, Inc., https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412956253.n407
  
  Baumeister, Roy F., and Kathleen D. Vohs. "Positive Illusions." In Encyclopedia of Social Psychology, edited by Baumeister, Roy F., and Kathleen D. Vohs, 683-84. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2007. https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412956253.n407.
  
  Baumeister, R. F. and Vohs, K. D. 2007. Positive Illusions. In: Roy F. Baumeister and Kathleen D. Vohs Editors, 2007. Encyclopedia of Social Psychology, Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. pp. 683-684 Available at: <https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412956253.n407> [Accessed 18 Aug 2022].
  
  Baumeister, Roy F. and Kathleen D. Vohs. "Positive Illusions." Encyclopedia of Social Psychology. Edited by Vol. 1. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2007, pp. 683-84. SAGE Knowledge. 18 Aug 2022, doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412956253.n407.
  
  Baumeister, Roy F., and Kathleen D. Vohs (2007). Positive illusions In:Positive illusions Encyclopedia of social psychology Vol. 1. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.; 2007:683-684. doi:10.4135/9781412956253.n407
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Positive Illusions

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History and Background

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