Psychology - Mental Health - Essay Example

Criticism of Taylor and Brown’s 1988 study that positive illusions foster mental health Taylor and Brown’s 1988 study that looked at how positive illusions foster mental health is considered by many to be a work of genius. By others, it is considered a highly flawed, inaccurate study that purposely misleads people into believing that narcissistic self beliefs can actually be positive. One of the strongest criticisers of this work was Colvin and Block’s 1994 article “Do Positive Illusions Foster Mental Health?

An Examination of the Taylor and Brown Formulation.” In their criticisms of Taylor and Brown’s work, they note the strong lack of evidence that Taylor and Brown supply for their analysis, including data that correlates, but does not necessitate causation from research study on college students, incorrect assumptions about the meaning of the overly positive illusions that depressed individuals have, the overwhelming belief of depressed individuals to believe they have more control over their situation then they do, and the idea that a positive belief about the future will necessitate a positive future (Colvin and Block 1994).

While all of these concepts may be see as correlated to increased positive self image, Colvin and Block suggest that while this behavior may also be typical of normal subjects, it does not compel the reader to recognize these behaviors as healthy, when current psychological practise prefers that people have a realistic self image, as apposed to a highly illusionary self image (Colvin and Block 1994). One of the primary criticisms Colvin and Block suggest is the use of the terms “balanced” and “evenhanded.

” They criticise these terms, in that Taylor and Brown do not give a definition of either term, and their meaning can be ambiguous. While Taylor and Brown’s article suggests the terms to mean “a subject ascribes to self a relatively equal number of positive and negative characteristics” (Colvin and Block 1994). Colvin and Block argue that a more realistic assumption of self would be an unequal characteristic organisation, which is a more accurate portrayal of the self (Colvin and Block 1994).

Looking at research, Colvin and Block make a strong argument for the need for realism, not illusion in mental health. While most people rate themselves as happier or better of then others, this is the result of overly broad questioning, which makes answers incomparable. When questions are focused on specific traits, the better than others effect is severely diminished (Dunning, Meyerowitz, & Holzberg, 1989). Also, while mentally healthy individuals may have a more positive self image, it is also more likely they should have more positive self concept (Colvin, Block and Funder 1995).

Additionally, while extreme negative self enhancement is unfavorable, so is extreme positive self enhancement, according to the 1998 study by Asendorpf and Ostendorf. Positive self image and overall mental health is not a linear relationship, rather a curve in which neither extreme is desirable (Asendorpf and Ostendorf 1998). While Colvin and Block’s criticism of Taylor and Brown’s study “Illusion and well-being: A social psychological perspective on mental health,” has much validity, it is also overbroad in it’s’ assumptions that positive self-image can only be harmful.

Recent study suggests that both extremes in positive and negative self image are harmful (Asendorpf and Ostendorf 1998).Works CitedAsendorpf, J., & Ostendorf, F. (1998). Is Self-Enhancement Healthy? Conceptual, Psychometric, and Empirical Analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(4), 955-966. Colvin, C., & Block, J. (1994). Do Positive Illusions Foster Mental Health? An Examination of the Taylor and Brown Formulation. Psychological Bulletin, 116(1), 3-20. Colvin, C., Block, J.

, & Funder, D. (1995). Overly Positive Self-Evaluations and Personality : Negative Implications for Mental Health. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68(6), 1152-1162. Dunning, D., Meyerowitz, J. A. & Holzberg, A. (1989). Ambiguity and self-evaluation: The role of idiosyncratic trait definitions in self-serving assessments of ability. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 1082-1090.Taylor, S. E. & Brown, J. D. (1988). Illusion and well-being: A social psychological perspective on mental health.

Psychological Bulletin, 103, 193-210.