Wishful Thinking
From Design+Encyclopedia, the free encyclopedia on good design, art, architecture, creativity, engineering and innovation.
Wishful Thinking
Wishful thinking is a phenomenon that occurs when an individual holds a belief or expectation that is not grounded in reality. It is a common cognitive bias that can lead individuals to make decisions and take actions based on unrealistic expectations, rather than objective evidence. Wishful thinking is often fueled by emotions such as hope, desire, and optimism, and can be difficult to overcome, as it can be deeply ingrained in an individual's psyche. One of the key aspects of wishful thinking is that it often involves a disregard for evidence that contradicts one's beliefs or expectations. Individuals who engage in wishful thinking may selectively seek out information that supports their preferred outcome, while ignoring or dismissing evidence that suggests otherwise. This can lead to a confirmation bias, in which individuals only seek out information that confirms their preconceived beliefs, rather than considering alternative perspectives. Another important aspect of wishful thinking is that it can have significant consequences, particularly in decision-making contexts. Individuals who engage in wishful thinking may make decisions based on unrealistic expectations, which can lead to disappointment, frustration, and even harm. For example, an individual who invests all of their savings in a risky stock based on wishful thinking may suffer significant financial losses if the stock does not perform as expected. Overall, wishful thinking is a cognitive bias that can have significant consequences for individuals and society as a whole. It is important to be aware of this bias and to take steps to overcome it, such as seeking out diverse perspectives and considering evidence objectively.
cognitive bias, confirmation bias, decision-making, unrealistic expectations, emotions
CITATION : "Matthew Thompson. 'Wishful Thinking.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/wishful-thinking?E=357980 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"
Wishful Thinking
Wishful thinking is a cognitive bias in which an individual is more likely to believe in something that they would like to be true, rather than something that is actually true. It is a form of self-deception that encourages individuals to ignore reality and instead focus on the things that they would prefer to be true. This bias can lead to logical fallacies as individuals may be more likely to accept evidence that supports their preferred outcome, and disregard evidence that does not. Wishful thinking can also lead to confirmation bias, which is the tendency to accept evidence that confirms a preconceived belief and reject evidence that does not.
Positive thinking, optimism, delusion, hopefulness, daydreaming, magical thinking, fantasy, and denial.
Wishful Thinking on Design+Encyclopedia
We have 220,822 Topics and 478,829 Entries and Wishful Thinking has 2 entries on Design+Encyclopedia. Design+Encyclopedia is a free encyclopedia, written collaboratively by designers, creators, artists, innovators and architects. Become a contributor and expand our knowledge on Wishful Thinking today.