> Although depressed individuals are thought to have a negative cognitive bias [...] depressive realism argues not only that this negativity may reflect a more accurate appraisal of the world but also that non-depressed individuals' appraisals are positively biased.
Makes sense. Unless you have some kind of solid evidence to suggest that things will go well, there's no basis for being positive. At most you could argue that being positive can increase motivation, confidence, etc. But you have to weigh that against the risk for disappointment, discouragement, etc in the long run if you encounter repeated failure or disillusionment. And motivation aside, being realistic can be more helpful than being positive for some people.
Makes sense. Unless you have some kind of solid evidence to suggest that things will go well, there's no basis for being positive. At most you could argue that being positive can increase motivation, confidence, etc. But you have to weigh that against the risk for disappointment, discouragement, etc in the long run if you encounter repeated failure or disillusionment. And motivation aside, being realistic can be more helpful than being positive for some people.