Behavioural and neural characterization of optimistic reinforcement learning
When forming and updating beliefs about future life outcomes, people tend to consider good
news and to disregard bad news. This tendency is assumed to support the optimism bias …
news and to disregard bad news. This tendency is assumed to support the optimism bias …
The role of the neural reward circuitry in self-referential optimistic belief updates
B Kuzmanovic, A Jefferson, K Vogeley - NeuroImage, 2016 - Elsevier
People are motivated to adopt the most favorable beliefs about their future because positive
beliefs are experienced as rewarding. However, it is so far inconclusive whether brain …
beliefs are experienced as rewarding. However, it is so far inconclusive whether brain …
How unrealistic optimism is maintained in the face of reality
Unrealistic optimism is a pervasive human trait that influences domains ranging from
personal relationships to politics and finance. How people maintain unrealistic optimism …
personal relationships to politics and finance. How people maintain unrealistic optimism …
Self‐specific optimism bias in belief updating is associated with high trait optimism
B Kuzmanovic, A Jefferson… - Journal of Behavioral …, 2015 - Wiley Online Library
People learn more from new information when it leads to favorable future outlooks and thus
can maintain optimism despite conflicting evidence. In two studies (N= 20 and 26), we …
can maintain optimism despite conflicting evidence. In two studies (N= 20 and 26), we …
The computational roots of positivity and confirmation biases in reinforcement learning
S Palminteri, M Lebreton - Trends in cognitive sciences, 2022 - cell.com
Humans do not integrate new information objectively: outcomes carrying a positive affective
value and evidence confirming one's own prior belief are overweighed. Until recently …
value and evidence confirming one's own prior belief are overweighed. Until recently …
[HTML][HTML] A pessimistic view of optimistic belief updating
Received academic wisdom holds that human judgment is characterized by unrealistic
optimism, the tendency to underestimate the likelihood of negative events and overestimate …
optimism, the tendency to underestimate the likelihood of negative events and overestimate …
[HTML][HTML] Optimistic update bias holds firm: Three tests of robustness following Shah et al.
A diverse body of research has demonstrated that people update their beliefs to a greater
extent when receiving good news compared to bad news. Recently, a paper by Shah et al …
extent when receiving good news compared to bad news. Recently, a paper by Shah et al …
The value of what's to come: Neural mechanisms coupling prediction error and the utility of anticipation
Having something to look forward to is a keystone of well-being. Anticipation of future
reward, such as an upcoming vacation, can often be more gratifying than the experience …
reward, such as an upcoming vacation, can often be more gratifying than the experience …
Updating beliefs under perceived threat
Humans are better at integrating desirable information into their beliefs than undesirable
information. This asymmetry poses an evolutionary puzzle, as it can lead to an …
information. This asymmetry poses an evolutionary puzzle, as it can lead to an …
Neural mechanisms mediating optimism bias
Humans expect positive events in the future even when there is no evidence to support such
expectations. For example, people expect to live longer and be healthier than average, they …
expectations. For example, people expect to live longer and be healthier than average, they …