Wishful thinking

Wishful thinking is the formation of beliefs and making decisions according to what might be pleasing to imagine instead of by appealing to evidence, rationality, or reality. It is a product of resolving conflicts between belief and desire. Studies have consistently shown that holding all else equal, subjects will predict positive outcomes to be more likely than negative outcomes (see valence effect). However, new research suggests that under certain circumstances, such as when threat increases, a reverse phenomenon occurs.

Some psychologists believe that positive thinking is able to positively influence behavior and so bring about better results. This is called "Pygmalion effect".

Christopher Booker described wishful thinking in terms of

Notable examples

Prominent examples of wishful thinking include:

  • Economist Irving Fisher said that "stock prices have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau" a few weeks before the Stock Market Crash of 1929, which was followed by the Great Depression.
  • Wishful thinking (disambiguation)

    Wishful thinking is the formation of beliefs according to what might be pleasing to imagine instead of by appealing to rationality.

    Wishful Thinking may also refer to:

    Music

  • Wishful Thinking (Propaganda album), 1985
  • Wishful Thinking (Earl Klugh album), 1984
  • "Wishful Thinking" (China Crisis song), 1983
  • "Wishful Thinking" (Duncan Sheik song), 1998
  • "Wishful Thinking" (Neck Deep album), 2014
  • "Wishful Thinking", a song by 4hero from Two Pages
  • "Wishful Thinking", a song by Alphaville from Salvation (Alphaville album)
  • "Wishful Thinking", a song by The Ditty Bops from The Ditty Bops
  • "Wishful Thinking", a song by John Petrucci from Suspended Animation
  • "Wishful Thinkin'", a song by Poison from Hollyweird
  • "Wishful Thinkin'", a song by Sly & the Family Stone from Small Talk
  • "Wishful Thinkin'", a song by Tony Booth (a.k.a. Johnny Booth)
  • "Wishful Thinking", a song by Travis Tritt from Ten Feet Tall and Bulletproof
  • "Wishful Thinking", a song by Wilco from A Ghost Is Born
  • Wishful Thinking (Neck Deep album)

    Wishful Thinking is the debut studio album from Welsh rock band Neck Deep. Vocalist Ben Barlow met guitarist Lloyd Roberts when Roberts was working with Barlow's brother, Seb. Following the upload of a song under the artist name Neck Deep, the song gained attention. This attention resulted in the duo obtaining guitarist Matt West, drummer Dani Washington and bassist Fil Thorpe-Evans. The band released two EPs, Rain in July (2012) and A History of Bad Decisions. In March 2013 the band started recording material at Celestial Recordings, in Wrexham, where they recorded guitar, bass and vocals. The group then moved to Outhouse Studio, in Reading, where they recorded drums. Material was produced by Seb Barlow and the band. In mid-August, the group had signed to Hopeless, and by late August, they announced the album had been had finished.

    "Crushing Grief (No Remedy)" was released as a single in October 2013. Following this the band toured the UK and Australia. "Growing Pains" was released as a single in December. In early January 2014 Wishful Thinking was made available for streaming, and the group went on a headlining tour of the UK. The album was released a week after the stream. The success of the album resulted in the band moved from a "fun, part-time [entity]", as Barlow called it, to a full-time thing. Also due to the success, Thorpe-Evans, West and Roberts quit their jobs, Washington turned down a place at the Academy of Contemporary Music, and Barlow dropped out of university. "Losing Teeth" was released as a single in July.

    Podcasts:

    PLAYLIST TIME:

    Wishful Thinking

    by: Duncan Sheik

    Listen to the waves
    Everything communicates
    Will it ever be
    Anything more than wishful thinking?
    Oh no, there you go
    Looked away and missed the show
    How much wasted time
    Will you survive?
    Feel the blades of grass
    How it brings you back
    It will always be
    Only as green as you can see
    Oh no, there you go
    Looked away and missed the show
    How much wasted time
    Will you survive?
    Oh yeah, fooled again
    I don't know how and I don't know when
    Not much else to blame
    But wishful thinking
    Little breakdowns
    In coastal town
    They come suddenly
    Crashing over you
    They come easily
    I'm falling through the skies
    And frozen places
    Oh no, there you go
    Looked away and missed the show
    How much wasted time
    Will you survive?
    Oh yeah, fooled again
    I don't know how and I don't know when
    Not much else to blame
    But wishful thinking
    And I try to realize
    That I needn't look any further
    The whole of the universe is plain to see
    And I try not to rely
    On another world or the future
    The whole of the universe is a mystery
    Gets me over
    It gets me over, yeah, oh
    It gets me over




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