Positive illusions and well-being revisited: Separating fact from fiction.

1994/01/01 by Shelley E. Taylor, Jonathon D. Brown · 17 citations
Psychology · #Optimism, Hope, and Well-being #Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction #Mental Health Research Topics #Illusion #Perception #Psychology #Social psychology #Social perception #Cognitive psychology #Mental health #Empirical research #Optical illusion #Epistemology #Philosophy #Psychotherapist

paper · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.116.1.21

openalex publication_date 1994/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15

Abstract

In 1988, we published an article that challenged the notion that accurate perceptions of self and the world are essential for mental health (Taylor & Brown, 1988). We argued instead that people's perceptions in these domains are positively biased and that these positive illusions promote psychological well-being. In the current article, we review our theoretical model, correct certain misconceptions in its empirical application, and address the criticisms made by Colvin and Block.

Citations

• The illusion of control.
• Are positive illusions necessary for self-esteem: a research note
• Effects of deliberative and implemental mind-sets on illusion of control.
• Effects of mindset on positive illusions.
• Human agency in social cognitive theory.
• Illusion and well-being: A social psychological perspective on mental health.

Cited by

• Flawed Self-Assessment
• Motivational and Emotional Aspects of the Self
• Positive Illusions and Coping with Adversity
• Positive Illusions in Parenting: Every Child Is Above Average
• Self-Enhancement and Psychological Adjustment: A Meta-Analytic Review
• Long-Term Costs of Inflated Self-Estimate on Academic Performance among Adolescent Students: A Case of Second-Language Achievements
• Testing the Generality of the Name Letter Effect: Name Initials and Everyday Attitudes
• Symbolic Significance of Initials on Longevity
• Self-Evaluation: To Thine Own Self Be Good, To Thine Own Self Be Sure, To Thine Own Self Be True, and To Thine Own Self be Better
• Is There a Universal Positivity Bias in Attributions? A Meta-Analytic Review of Individual, Developmental, and Cultural Differences in the Self-Serving Attributional Bias.
• Being better than others but otherwise perfectly normal: Perceptions of uniqueness and similarity in close relationships
• The Multiply Motivated Self
• Self-evaluation bias and academic performance: Some ways and some reasons why
• Portrait of the self-enhancer: Well adjusted and well liked or maladjusted and friendless?
• The “Better Than Myself Effect”
• Factors connected with positive life orientation at age 70, 80, 85 and 90 – The Turku Elderly Study
• Positive illusions [wikipedia]