When is it good to believe bad things?

Joshua M. Ackerman; Jenessa R. Shapiro; Jon K. Maner

doi:10.1017/S0140525X09991142

When is it good to believe bad things?

Joshua M. Ackerman, Jenessa R. Shapiro, Jon K. Maner

Management and Organizations

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Positive and negative misbeliefs both may have evolved to serve important adaptive functions. Here, we focus on the role of negative misbeliefs in promoting adaptive outcomes within the contexts of romantic relationships and intergroup interactions. Believing bad things can paradoxically encourage romantic fidelity, personal safety, competitive success, and group solidarity, among other positive outcomes.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	510-511
Number of pages	2
Journal	Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Volume	32
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X09991142
State	Published - Dec 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
Physiology
Behavioral Neuroscience

Access to Document

10.1017/S0140525X09991142

Cite this

@article{a32a091d63064b53b67bda9e415dbc37,

title = "When is it good to believe bad things?",

abstract = "Positive and negative misbeliefs both may have evolved to serve important adaptive functions. Here, we focus on the role of negative misbeliefs in promoting adaptive outcomes within the contexts of romantic relationships and intergroup interactions. Believing bad things can paradoxically encourage romantic fidelity, personal safety, competitive success, and group solidarity, among other positive outcomes.",

author = "Ackerman, {Joshua M.} and Shapiro, {Jenessa R.} and Maner, {Jon K.}",

year = "2009",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1017/S0140525X09991142",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "32",

pages = "510--511",

journal = "Behavioral and Brain Sciences",

issn = "0140-525X",