<p>Are you referring to the <strong>optimism bias</strong> from a social psychology perspective?</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Your brain has a built-in optimism bias. The phenomenon is also often
referred to as &quot;the illusion of invulnerability,&quot; &quot;unrealistic
optimism,&quot; and a &quot;personal fable.&quot;</p>
<p>This bias leads us to believe that we are less likely to suffer from
misfortune and more likely to attain success than reality would
suggest.2﻿ We believe that we will live longer than the average, that
our children will be smarter than the average, and that we will be
more successful in life than the average. But by definition, we can't
all be above average.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-optimism-bias-2795031" rel="nofollow noreferrer">VeryWellMind</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-09T20:34:25.647Z
My brain hasn't, but the term "optimism bias" is exactly what I was looking for.
user1934212
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-09T15:46:08.140Z
2020-11-09T15:46:08.140Z
inu
<p>What is the scientific term for the tendency of people to believe, that their expected experience positively deviates from what their first- or second-hand experience suggests?</p>
<p>An example for this effect would be an older European Lady dating a young African man and - despite knowing that many such relationships are dominated by asymmetric economical and romantical interests - believes, that her own relationship will be different.
Another example are people who are educated and experienced enough to know how cults work, yet fail to identify the cult they themselves are currently involved in.</p>
<p>Generally, I would say it is a form of self-delusion, or hope, if you want to give it a positive spin - but I am looking for a more specific term for this particular type of self-delusion.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-10T22:00:01.040Z
I don't think you mean first or second-hand experience.  For example, if the woman herself previously had a failed relationship with a black man, then that would be first-hand experience; and if she had friends who dated black men and it didn't work out, then that would be second-hand experience.  The cognitive bias referring to the expectation of different results from the same personal experience is called [empathy gap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empathy_gap).  Optimism bias refers to people's overly-optimistic assessment of their own success relative to the average.
Arnon Weinberg
<perception><bias>
What is the scientific term for the expectation, that a personal experience positively deviates from what first- or second-hand experience suggests?
user1934212
# What is the scientific term for the expectation, that a personal experience positively deviates from what first- or second-hand experience suggests?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-11-09)

What is the scientific term for the tendency of people to believe, that their expected experience positively deviates from what their first- or second-hand experience suggests?

An example for this effect would be an older European Lady dating a young African man and - despite knowing that many such relationships are dominated by asymmetric economical and romantical interests - believes, that her own relationship will be different.
Another example are people who are educated and experienced enough to know how cults work, yet fail to identify the cult they themselves are currently involved in.

Generally, I would say it is a form of self-delusion, or hope, if you want to give it a positive spin - but I am looking for a more specific term for this particular type of self-delusion.

**Tags:** perception, bias

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I don't think you mean first or second-hand experience.  For example, if the woman herself previously had a failed relationship with a black man, then that would be first-hand experience; and if she had friends who dated black men and it didn't work out, then that would be second-hand experience.  The cognitive bias referring to the expectation of different results from the same personal experience is called [empathy gap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empathy_gap).  Optimism bias refers to people's overly-optimistic assessment of their own success relative to the average.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-11-09. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Are you referring to the **optimism bias** from a social psychology perspective?

> Your brain has a built-in optimism bias. The phenomenon is also often
> referred to as "the illusion of invulnerability," "unrealistic
> optimism," and a "personal fable."
>
> This bias leads us to believe that we are less likely to suffer from
> misfortune and more likely to attain success than reality would
> suggest.2﻿ We believe that we will live longer than the average, that
> our children will be smarter than the average, and that we will be
> more successful in life than the average. But by definition, we can't
> all be above average.

Source: [VeryWellMind](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-optimism-bias-2795031)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: My brain hasn't, but the term "optimism bias" is exactly what I was looking for.  

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