Describe Two Reasons Why Affective Forecasting Research Shows People to Overestimate

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Examlex · Accepted Answer

The Answer is There are two main reasons why affective forecasting research shows people to overestimate the impact of negative events.

Firstly, people tend to focus more on the immediate emotional impact of negative events rather than considering their long-term emotional resilience. This leads them to overestimate the duration and intensity of their negative emotions, as they fail to take into account their ability to adapt and cope with the situation over time. For example, individuals may predict that a breakup will leave them devastated for months, when in reality they may find ways to heal and move on more quickly than expected.

Secondly, individuals often engage in a phenomenon known as "immune neglect," where they underestimate their own psychological immune system's ability to protect them from the negative impact of events. This leads them to overestimate the long-term impact of negative events on their overall well-being. For instance, people may predict that losing a job will have a catastrophic and lasting effect on their happiness, when in reality they may find new opportunities and sources of fulfillment that mitigate the negative impact.

In summary, affective forecasting research shows that people overestimate the impact of negative events due to their tendency to focus on immediate emotions and underestimate their own resilience and ability to adapt.

Describe Two Reasons Why Affective Forecasting Research Shows People to Overestimate

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