The Belief in a Favorable Future

Todd Rogers and Michael I. Norton
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Todd Rogers: Harvard University
Michael I. Norton: Harvard University

Working Paper Series from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government

Abstract: We propose that people hold a belief in a favorable future (BFF), projecting that the future will change in ways advantageous to their current interests. People believe that their political views, entertainment preferences, and scientific beliefs will be more widely held by others in the future (Study 1). BFF is greater in magnitude than the false-consensus effect (Study 2). BFF does not reflect a generalized optimism about the future or a belief that others will become more similar to the self: people believe the future will change in self-benefitting way, in particular (Study 3). BFF is greatest when people believe their views are based on objective truth (Study 4). Ironically, BFF may make the futures people anticipate less likely to occur by undermining people's motivation to take action today to bring about the favorable futures they believe to be inevitable.

Date: 2014-10
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ecl:harjfk:rwp14-048

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