Do Positive Illusions Lead to Healthy Behavior?

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ISSUE 6. Do Positive Illusions Lead to Healthy Behavior?

YES: SHELLEY E. TAYLOR AND JONATHON D. BROWN, FROM “ILLUSION AND WELL-BEING: A SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON MENTAL HEALTH,” PSYCHOLOGICAL BULLETIN (VOL. 103, 1988)

NO: C. RANDALL COLVIN, JACK BLOCK, AND DAVID C. FUNDER, FROM “OVERLY POSITIVE SELF-EVAL‎UATIONS AND PERSONALITY: NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH,” JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (VOL. 68, 1995)

Shelley Taylor and Jonathon Brown argue that people have unrealistically positive views of themselves. These "positive illusions" promote psychological well-being. C. Randall Colvin, Jack Block, and David Funder agree that many people have positive views of themselves. However, these positive self-views should not necessarily be considered illusory.