Ask a roomful of people if they think they are above-average drivers, and most will raise their hands. 86% of Harvard students say they are better looking than their classmates, and 68% of lawyers believe their sides will win1. Mathematically of course, it's impossible for more than half of any population to be above-average yet for as long as psychologists have been exploring human nature people have rated their own abilities above average on almost every desirable trait from effectiveness to sense of humour.
Optimism is a very healthy quality. It fuels us. Optimism is integral to the development of the human race because it helps us combat life's...
