The psychological
literature is full of studies illustrating the benefits—both personal and
social—of holding positive “illusions” about ourselves. Researchers find that
when they induce a positive mood, by whatever means, people are more likely to
interact with others and more likely to help others. Those feeling good about
themselves are more cooperative in bargaining situations and more likely to
find a constructive solution to their conflicts. They are also better problem
solvers, more motivated to succeed, and more likely to persist in the face of a
challenge. Motivated reasoning enables our minds to defend us against
unhappiness, and in the process it gives us the strength to overcome the many
obstacles in life that might otherwise overwhelm us. The more of it we do, the
better off we tend to be, for it seems to inspire us to strive to become what
we think we are. In fact, studies show that the people with the most accurate
self-perceptions tend to be moderately depressed, suffer from low self-esteem,
or both. An overly positive self-evaluation, on the other hand, is normal and
healthy.
