Author Question: Research suggests that most people have positive illusions. Explain what positive illusions are, ... (Read 102 times)

genevieve1028 · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

Research suggests that most people have positive illusions. Explain what positive illusions are, identify the general function of positive illusions, and identify the three different types of positive illusions that people have. Then give an example of each type of positive illusion.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Marcie is at the pool and her little boy has struck his head on the diving board and is injured. What should Marcie do to make sure her son receives the help he needs? Why?

What will be an ideal response?

wfdfwc23 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

a . Positive illusions are distorted, overly positive views of oneself and one's opportunities. They are the norm. They help people to maintain high self-esteem, to have an optimistic and confident outlook on life, and to bounce back in the face of setbacks and failures.
b. The three different types of positive illusions are
i. the above average effect, the tendency for people to overestimate their strengths (and downplay or underestimate their weaknesses).
ii. the tendency for people to overestimate the amount of control that they have over events.
iii. the tendency for people to be overly optimistic.

Answer to Question 2

a . What she should do
i. Pick a face out of the crowd (perhaps a lifeguard not involved in the rescue) and stare at that person, making eye contact.
ii. Point directly at that person and say, You, I need help for my son. He needs an ambulance. Call 9-1-1 now..
b. Why she should do it--because this overcomes all the barriers to helping noted in the five-step model.
i. This insures that the person will notice her (reducing distraction).
ii. It clarifies that Marcie really needs help (overcomes pluralistic ignorance).
iii. It helps clarify that the particular individual Marcie speaks to is responsible for helping (overcomes diffusion of responsibility)
iv. The person will now know exactly what to do (reduces lack of concerns about competence.
v. The person identified should not be inhibited by the audience (reduces audience inhibition).