Positive self-illusions are linked to better health and longer life

Evidence

Self-enhancing mechanisms are conceptualized as the active process of maintaining positive self-regard. This mechanism may include social comparison processes by which self-enhancers perceive themselves more positively than they perceive others; or they believe that others perceive them more positively than they in fact do (Kwan et al., 2004). This approach emphasizes the discrepancy between self-judgments and other judgments (i.e., self-enhancement bias), which can lead to “positive illusions” (Taylor, 1989). The evidence that self-enhancement is generally associated with mental and physical health and longevity is substantial (Taylor et al., 2003) The Universal Context of Racism Model is driven by two real or imagined threats: (a) a threat to personal control and freedom, and (b) a Mechanisms for Coping with Victimization 165 threat to personal and/or collective worth. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1083 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Self-enhancement bias promotes mental and physical health and longevity — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 1083; Self-esteem is embodied, not just mental, and blunts death-anxiety — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core: On the Role of…, 220; Self-esteem functions as protection against the terror of death — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core: On the Role of…, 114 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Self-enhancement bias promotes mental and physical health and longevity #corroborates (0.97) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1083