Implicit Optimistic Bias Of College Students On Internet Events,and Its Variability

This study included two experiments to demonstrate explicit and implicit optimistic bias of college students on internet events, and analyzed relationship between implicit and explicit optimistic bias. In experiment 1, internet event questionnaire was used to measure explicit optimistic bias, and implicit association test was used to measure implicit optimistic bias. In experiment 2, using positive evaluative conditioning (present repeatedly matching self and positive internet events or others and negative internet events) to strengthen implicit optimistic bias, and using negative evaluative conditioning (present repeatedly pairing self and negative internet events or others and positive internet events) to reduce implicit optimistic bias. Found the following conclusions:(1) The college students existed generally explicit optimistic bias on internet events. They tended to overestimate their chance of meeting positive internet events, and underestimate their possibility of meeting negative internet events; (2) The college students existed implicit optimistic bias on internet events, namely optimistic bias has the characteristics of automation and unconscious; (3) The explicit and implicit optimistic bias of the college students on internet events were two independent mental activity, and no significant correlation between them; (4) Optimistic bias of college students on negative internet events was much stronger than on positive internet events; 5) There was no gender differences on optimistic bias; (6)Positive evaluative conditioning can enhance the implicit optimistic bias; (7)Negative evaluative conditioning can weaken the implicit optimistic bias.