Anticipatory anxiety and wishful thinking…
Monday, April 22, 2024.
Wishful Thinking… and its Impact on Decision-Making and Success…
Wishful thinking is a captivating subject that reveals into the complexities of human cognition and emotion.
Recent research has shed light on how this phenomenon influences decision-making and success, particularly in times of uncertainty and anxiety.
Studies have shown a strong correlation between feelings of anxiety and insecurity and the propensity for wishful thinking.
When faced with uncertainty, some humans rely on wishful thinking as a coping mechanism, seeking comfort in optimistic beliefs.
However, while optimism can provide temporary relief, it can also hinder proactive behavior, as humans may become complacent in believing everything will resolve itself.
Professor Joël van der Weele's research in the emerging field of economic psychology has been instrumental in understanding the nuances of wishful thinking.
His studies, which involved over 1,700 participants, explored how both positive and negative outcomes shape biased beliefs. The experiments revealed that when individuals experienced anxiety, they were more likely to perceive patterns incorrectly, indicating a tendency towards wishful thinking.
Professor van der Weele explained their aim:
“So far, studies haven’t provided clear evidence for wishful thinking, with many not backing up the idea.
But these mainly focused on positive outcomes, like winning a lottery.
We examined how both positive and negative outcomes influence biased beliefs.”
One of the intriguing aspects of wishful thinking is its malleability.
Researchers found that reducing anxiety levels led to a more realistic assessment of situations.
Factors such as increased time to collect evidence and higher rewards for correct answers were effective in reducing wishful thinking.
This suggests that, as therapists, addressing underlying anxiety and providing our clients with the tools to make more informed decisions, we can mitigate the detrimental effects of wishful thinking.
Despite its potential benefits in alleviating fears about the future, wishful thinking can also have significant drawbacks.
Humans who engage in excessive wishful thinking may fail to take necessary actions or anticipate potential crises. This has implications across various domains, from personal health decisions to global issues like climate change.
More money and time were also effective, said Professor van der Weele:
“Reducing uncertainty did indeed turn out to reduce wishful thinking.
When people had more time to collect evidence and were better rewarded for a correct answer, they became more realistic.”
Understanding the balance between optimism and realism is key to navigating the complexities of wishful thinking. While it can provide a temporary sense of comfort, it is essential to remain grounded in reality to avoid hindering personal and collective success. By fostering a culture of informed decision-making and critical thinking, we can harness the positive aspects of wishful thinking while mitigating its potential pitfalls.
Professor van der Weele said:
“Wishful thinking is important for humans in coping with anxiety about possible future events.
People can get too hopeful when things are uncertain.
We observe this happening with climate change, when financial markets fluctuate, and even in personal health situations when people avoid medical help because they think everything will be fine.
We need to know more about when wishful thinking helps… and when it hurts.”
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
RESEARCH:
Anticipatory Anxiety and Wishful Thinking, with Jan Engelmann, Maël Lebreton, Nahuel Salem, and Peter Schwardmann, American Economic Review, 2024, 114(4): 926-60.
[pdf] Journal page OSF page Abstract Media: Medium, Uni. Amsterdam
