We examine actual and relative levels of optimism amongst females and males in a domain where a mismatch between expectancies could be disharmonious: marriage. Study 1 tests the strength of the bias for males versus females, and Study 2 follows up by examining the resilience of the bias among males and females. Given this, surprisingly, the literature has not systematically examined differences in unrealistic optimism among males and females levels of optimism regarding marriage (but see Murray et al., 1996a, 1996b). Consistent expectancies between marriage partners are important as marital satisfaction is mediated by individuals perceptions of their spouses goals for the marriage (Sanderson & Cantor, 2001), and expectancies can be self-fulfilling (Murray et al., 1996b). It is important to study individual differences in unrealistic optimism in contexts where such differences could lead to a mismatch of expectancies between groups or dyads, with consequences for the quantity and quality of their interaction. In this paper we focus on individual gender differences in unrealistic optimism. However, unrealistic optimism has not only been associated with positive mental health (Taylor & Brown, 1988), but in the specific context of marriage satisfaction, idealistic individuals have been shown to make their relationships more satisfying than realistic individuals (Murray, Holmes & Griffin, 1996a, 1996b).
Unrealistic optimism. update#
The bias is important as it can affect peoples intentions to engage in preventative behaviors (Mulkana & Hailey, 2001), as well as affect the manner in which they process information to update their beliefs (Radcliffe & Kline, 2002). The bias has been shown to have both favorable and unfavorable effects. Unrealistic optimism is a well-researched effect: people believe that good things are more likely to happen to themselves than to average others, and bad things are more likely to happen to others (Perloff & Fetzer, 1986 Weinstein, 1980). Priya Raghubir, University of California at Berkeley, U.S.A. Ying-Ching Lin, National Chi Nan University, Taiwan
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN UNREALISTIC OPTIMISM ABOUT MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE: ARE MEN MORE OPTIMISTIC AND WOMEN MORE REALISTIC? Yong-Uon Ha and Youjae Yi, Duluth, MN : Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 345-346.Īsia Pacific Advances in Consumer Research VolPages 345-346 Ying-Ching Lin and Priya Raghubir (2005) ,"Gender Differences in Unrealistic Optimism About Marriage and Divorce: Are Men More Optimistic and Women More Realistic?", in AP - Asia Pacific Advances in Consumer Research Volume 6, eds.
EXTENDED ABSTRACT - Unrealistic optimism is a well-researched effect: people believe that good things are more likely to happen to themselves than to average others, and bad things are more likely to happen to others (Perloff & Fetzer, 1986 Weinstein, 1980).