The world can often look quite grim, particularly as we reflect on the recent events of 2012: mass shootings, a sluggish economy, intractable dictators. So why don't we just give up? In the face of so many atrocities and so much disaster and so much sadness, how do we all keep our chins up and keep moving ahead with life? And not just moving ahead with it, but doing so with a certain level of hope?
It turns out that we humans have something that professor Tali Sharot calls the "optimism bias." And it's not just a state of mind. This optimism is also a scientific phenomenon that ties into human evolution and survival.
Sharot is a research fellow in cognitive, perceptual and brain sciences at University College London and author of "The Optimism Bias: A Tour of the Irrationally Positive Brain."
Star Trek: Past, Present and Future
The IRS Scandal: Who Gets Tax-Exempt Status?, Depression's Lessons, 'Star Trek: Into Darkness'
From 'Spinal Tap' to 'Family Tree,' the Wild Worlds of Christopher Guest
Senator Gillibrand on Sexual Assault in the Military, Implementing the Affordable Care Act, Responses: Your Most Difficult Boss
'David's Inferno': Depression's Lessons
The show is a co-production of WNYC Radio and Public Radio International, in collaboration with New York Times Radio and WGBH Boston.
Major funding provided by:
Comments [5]
Concerning the no repeats in 2013. The more interesting aspect of 2013 as a number is that the digits can be rearranged to 0123, both a consecutive sequence but the lowest possible consecutive sequence with four digits. The last lowest consecutive sequence was 1320 AD. The next will be 2031 AD. The last consecutive sequence was 1432 AD. The next will be 2031 AD. The one after that will be 2103 followed by 2301, 2310, then 2413.
How does the guest explain the prevalence of apocalyptic literature and movies that highlight the destruction and conflict postapocalyptic rather than the cooperation that has been found after disasters? I'm afraid that we have unconsciously accepted the inevitability of the end and dog eat dog response
Optimism is "The Dumb" of maturity. I walk around happy. I kid around with my kids and my girlfriend. I make great food, I joke with friends, I write about the human condition (it makes me happy to write about misery).
Even though I know the cynics of the world are right, they have an easy bet to win; eventually bad things are going to happen.
Big deal, like I don't know that everybody and myself are going to die.
I remain optimistic. It's like playing the lottery ticket every week and dreaming about winning. I don't actually have to win, I have the dream of the win...Of course, if I actually win, that is when the cynics can start rubbing their hands together in a Potter (Banker in "It's A Wonderful Life") kind of way.
Remaining optimistic pisses off the pessimists so much, I will force myself to be happy in the presence of misery...Since, I came of age, the first mature axiom I came up with was: FROM THE SNEER OF CONTEMPT TO THE FRIVOLOUS SMILE.
come choose "dumb" maturity with me
Not sure where to leave this, but with the talk about numbers and dates - it reminded me of a song that's all Pi, sung in Japanese. :) It's by... *digs through playlist* Inui Sadaharu
Remembering my mother Joye, “joyfully” is my word of the day for 2013, following “the long walk” from Thanksgiving to the new year, dragging along PTSD & widowhood, living in Viet-Nam 68-70 when my husband Air America pilot Jon was KIA 18 Feb 70, flying in Laos.
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.