Social Psychology

In light of Karl Popper’s inspiring words, “Optimism is a duty. The future is open. It is not predetermined“ we all contribute to determining the future by what we do. This article highlights the importance of individual responsibility in shaping our collective future.

Popper’s emphasis on optimism is not just about maintaining a positive outlook or positive emotions but about recognizing our active role in creating the future. By embracing optimism and taking responsibility for our actions, we can work towards a better, more inclusive future. It’s a call to action for all of us to engage, participate, and make conscious choices that will shape the world for generations to come.

Optimism does not mean to be sure of a positive future. Serious optimism means to be resilient in the face of adversity.

Serious optimism means to

• persist in challenging situations
• support communities
• together seek solutions,
• actively recharging through self-care (food, sleep, exercise, mediation, experiencing nature)
• and thus enhancing the probability of successful outcomes.

The optimistic mindset

Optimism is not merely a feel-good sentiment; it has profound psychological benefits. Optimists are often better equipped to handle stress and recover from setbacks. They view challenges as opportunities to grow rather than insurmountable obstacles. This mindset can lead to greater resilience, improved mental health, and overall life satisfaction.

Practical Ways to Cultivate Optimism

• Positive Visualization: Visualize positive outcomes and set achievable goals. Imagining success can boost confidence and motivation.

• Gratitude Practices: Keep a gratitude journal or regularly reflect on positive experiences. Focusing on what is going well can shift attention away from negative thoughts.
• Surround Yourself with Positive Influences: Engage with people who uplift and support you. Positive social connections can reinforce an optimistic outlook.
• Reframe Negative Thoughts: Challenge and reframe negative thoughts. Instead of viewing a setback as a failure, see it as a learning opportunity.
• Engage in Self-Care: Prioritize activities that promote well-being, such as exercise, healthy eating, and mindfulness practices. Taking care of your physical and mental health can enhance your capacity for optimism.

Optimism as a Collective Responsibility

Optimism extends beyond individual well-being. It is a collective responsibility to foster a culture of hope and resilience. By supporting one another, engaging in community initiatives, and advocating for positive change, we can build a more optimistic and thriving society.

When social media is used to compare ourselves to seemingly perfect or wealthier individuals and to strive for perfect beauty (achieved through expensive cosmetics and surgeries) or fame and status, it can lead to perfectionism that threatens our mental resilience. Social comparison is the motor behing much of today`s anxiety and depression.

Comparing ourselves to people who are better in certain aspects, such as appearance, status, or achievements, can make us feel inferior, inadequate, or unworthy. We may also overlook the fact that everyone has their own unique circumstances, challenges, and goals in life. By comparing ourselves to unrealistic or unfair standards that do not reflect our true potential, we risk damaging our self-esteem and mental well-being.

The Dangers of Social Comparison

Social comparison and perfectionism can manifest in various ways, including:

• Unrealistic Expectations: Holding ourselves to impossible standards can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and feelings of failure.
• Fear of Failure: The fear of not meeting these high standards can prevent us from taking risks, trying new things, and pursuing our goals.
• Negative Self-Talk: Constantly criticizing ourselves and focusing on our perceived flaws can erode our self-confidence and mental health.

Strategies to Counteract the Negative Effects of Social Comparison

To mitigate the negative impact of social comparison and perfectionism, consider the following strategies:

1. Limit Social Media Use: Reduce the time spent on social media platforms and focus on real-life interactions and activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.
2. Curate Your Feed: Follow accounts that inspire and uplift you, rather than those that make you feel inadequate or envious.
3. Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that it’s okay to have imperfections. Embrace your strengths and focus on personal growth.
4. Set Realistic Goals: Establish achievable and meaningful goals that align with your values and aspirations. Celebrate your progress and accomplishments, no matter how small.
5. Seek Support: Talk to friends, family, or a mental health professional about your feelings and struggles. Building a support network can help you navigate challenges and maintain mental resilience.

Embracing Authenticity

Remember that everyone has their own unique journey, and comparing yourself to others is often unfair and unproductive. Embrace authenticity by:

• Recognizing Your Unique Qualities: Appreciate your own strengths, talents, and achievements.
• Being True to Yourself: Pursue your passions and interests, even if they don’t align with societal expectations or trends.
• Fostering Meaningful Connections: Surround yourself with people who support and encourage you, rather than those who contribute to feelings of inadequacy. In humanistic and positive psychology “Relatedness” is an essential basic psychological need as opposed to social comparison, which is seen as extrinsic motivation. Read more about humanistic/positive psychology and relatedness om my Dutch blog (use Gooogle Translate)

By shifting our focus from comparison and perfectionism to authenticity and self-compassion, we can build a healthier relationship with social media and enhance our mental resilience.

One of the essential insights from social-psychological research is that human information processing is often biased and characterized by thinking errors and cognitive distortions. This concept of “cognitive bias” was introduced by Tversky and Kahneman.

Cognitive Biases and Heuristics

Tversky and Kahneman explained cognitive errors in terms of heuristics, mental shortcuts that provide quick judgments. Cognitive biases can help people handle common situations in life quickly. A cognitive bias is a systematic pattern of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment. Individuals create their own “subjective reality” based on their perception of the world. Cognitive biases can sometimes lead to inaccurate judgments, illogical interpretations, or what is generally referred to as critical irrationality or, in a more favorable sense, intuition.

Evolutionary Origins and Impact

Many cognitive biases have evolutionary origins and helped humans survive. Cognitive errors can lead to more effective actions. Moreover, allowing cognitive biases enables quicker decisions, often prioritizing speed over accuracy. Cognitive biases are a result of human mental limitations, reflecting a limited capacity for information processing.

Common Cognitive Biases

Researchers have identified and described hundreds of cognitive errors. Recently, researchers Oeberst and Imhoff proposed a simplified summary of many common thinking errors. While not all thinking errors fit into their proposed simplified model (e.g., the negativity bias), many thinking errors can be reduced to a simple model.

Fundamental Beliefs and cognitive distortions

Adapted from Oeberst & Imhoff (2023)

We all share a naive set of fundamental beliefs unless we have learned to take time to think in a broader, inclusive, and long-term system-2 perspective. Here are some fundamental beliefs:

• My experience is a reasonable reference.
• I make correct assessments of the world.
• I am good.
• My group is a reasonable reference.
• My group (members) is (are) good.
• People’s attributes (not context) shape outcomes.

These fundamental beliefs often underlie our cognitive biases and influence our perceptions and judgments.

References

Oeberst, A., & Imhoff, R. (2023). Toward Parsimony in Bias Research: A Proposed Common Framework of Belief-Consistent Information Processing for a Set of Biases. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 17456916221148147.