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Evolution

Selection for positive illusions

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Everybody knows that overconfidence can be foolhardy. But a study reveals that having an overly positive self-image might confer an evolutionary advantage if the rewards outweigh the risks. See Letter p.317

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Figure 1: Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Matthijs van Veelen is at the Center for Research in Experimental Economics and Political Decision Making, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 11, 1018 WB Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,

    Matthijs van Veelen

  2. Department of Mathematics and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Martin A. Nowak is at the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,

    Martin A. Nowak

Authors
  1. Matthijs van Veelen
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  2. Martin A. Nowak
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Correspondence to Matthijs van Veelen or Martin A. Nowak.

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van Veelen, M., Nowak, M. Selection for positive illusions. Nature 477, 282–283 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/477282a

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