Abstract
Unrealistic comparative optimism (UO) bias, which is a specific and biased form of optimism, poses major risks for the individual, particularly for one’s health. From this perspective, there is a pressing need for methods reducing this bias and the present paper joins this effort. In two on-line mixed-design experiments (N = 1,330), the second of which was preregistered, we tested whether UO – regarding the probability of COVID-19 infection—can be eradicated or at least reduced via generation of optimistic/pessimistic scenarios in comparison to others. Generating pessimistic scenarios consistently fully eradicated the UO bias. Generating optimistic scenarios did not change UO.
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All materials, as well as databases, and statistical analysis for the experiments are available at the Open Science Framework (OSF; https://osf.io/3u956/).
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This research was supported by: The Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) within the Urgency Grants programme granted to Wojciech Kulesza (number: PPN/GIN/2020/1/00063/U/00001).
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Kulesza, W., Dolinski, D., Muniak, P. et al. 3–6-9 “Threatened-Me” Rule: Testing a New Method to Reduce Unrealistic Comparative Optimism. Curr Psychol 43, 7284–7296 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04927-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04927-0