4 of 171
Affective forecasting is the process of predicting one's future emotional state and how it will influence decision-making. Early studies found that individuals often overestimate their future emotional responses to events, leading to systematic errors in judgment about happiness and well-being.
Example
For instance, many people believe that winning the lottery will bring them lasting happiness, but research shows they often overestimate the joy this event will bring, neglecting other factors that influence their emotional state.
How to overcome this bias
To overcome affective forecasting errors, individuals can practice mindfulness and focus on how they have adapted to past events, gaining a realistic view of their emotional resilience.