(March 27, 2013 at 9:34 pm)thesummerqueen Wrote: because a realistic person would weigh both sides of the situation, not just the one.

(February 18, 2013 at 11:10 am)naimless Wrote:
The total perspective vortex

Quote:In 1988, psychologists Shelley Taylor and Jonathon Brown published an article making the somewhat disturbing claim that positive self-deception is a normal and beneficial part of most people’s everyday outlook. They suggested that average people hold cognitive biases in three key areas: a) viewing themselves in unrealistically positive terms; b) believing they have more control over their environment than they actually do; and c) holding views about the future that are more positive than the evidence can justify. The typical person, it seems, depends on these happy delusions for the self-esteem needed to function through a normal day...

Studies into clinical depression have yielded similar findings, leading to the development of an intriguing, but still controversial, concept known as depressive realism. This theory puts forward the notion that depressed individuals actually have more realistic perceptions of their own image, importance, and abilities than the average person. While it’s still generally accepted that depressed people can be negatively biased in their interpretation of events and information, depressive realism suggests that they are often merely responding rationally to realities that the average person cheerfully denies.

...These problems put therapists in the curious position of teaching patients to develop irrational patterns of thinking—patterns that help them view the world as a rosier place than it really is. Counter-intuitive as it sounds, it's justified because what defines a mental disorder is not unreasonable or illogical thought, but abnormal behaviour that causes significant distress and impairs normal functioning in society. Treatment is about restoring a person to that level of normal functioning and satisfaction, even if it means building cognitions that aren’t precisely “rational” or “realistic.”

(March 27, 2013 at 9:50 pm)thesummerqueen Wrote: I must really be exhausted and sick, because I'm tired of going round and round with you fucks.

(March 30, 2013 at 12:10 pm)Tex Wrote: The problem I see in those depressed isn't that they are pessimistic fools. Instead its about focus and drive. When a problem arises, the optimist will say its not that bad and move on, the pessimist will say its the worst thing ever and never move on. However, both aren't dealing with any sort of issue. One just maintains la la land while the other thinks only on problems. Not just person to person, but as a civilization, we need to focus more on solutions rather than ignoring or hyperfocusing on problems.

(March 27, 2013 at 9:34 pm)thesummerqueen Wrote:

(March 27, 2013 at 8:13 pm)naimless Wrote: It will prove your view is not realistic.

If I went in with the determination that I was going to find god no matter what, you better believe that I'd build me some cognitive dissonance and "find god". Theists do it every day on this forum. If you're bound and determined to find something to be pessimistic or 'depressed' (not clinically, but colloquially) about, you're going to find it. Junkyard is determined to see only the bad parts of the world. Shit in, shit out. You're right, it has nothing to do with realism, because a realistic person would weigh both sides of the situation, not just the one.