Faster than a speeding bullet: Usain Bolt has made a name for himself by appearing to be over confident before a race

They are regularly accused of being too confident – even cocky– but the highest achievers are more often than not those who over-rate their ability.

Now researchers believe they have discovered, for the first time, why humans have a false sense of optimism.

Computer led simulations have shown that overconfidence in all aspects of life can often improve your chances of winning.

For many years scientists have been divided over whether overconfidence is a good or bad thing and why it existed.

‘There hasn't been a good explanation for why we are overconfident, and this new model offers a kind of evolutionary logic for that. It's unlikely to be an accident—we're perhaps overconfident for a good reason,’ said Dr Dominic Johnson of the University of Edinburgh.

Sprinter Usain Bolt is famed for his relaxed and confident approach to performing, as was ‘the greatest’ boxer Muhammad Ali.

But there is a word of warning for anyone thinks they could be faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, or able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Positive self-delusion can also cause problems and lead to wrong decision making, unrealistic expectations, danger and failure.

(Read by Christine Mallari. Christine Mallari is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)

他們經(jīng)常因為太過自信甚至自負(fù)而遭到指責(zé)，然而成就最高的人往往是那些過高估計自身能力的人。

研究人員認(rèn)為他們現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)首度發(fā)現(xiàn)為什么人類會有過度樂觀的心理。

電腦操縱的模擬實驗顯示，在生活中各個方面，過分自信經(jīng)常能夠增加獲勝的幾率。

多年以來，科學(xué)家對于過分自信是好事還是壞事以及為何會有這種心理一直存在分歧。

愛丁堡大學(xué)的多米尼克強(qiáng)森博士說：“一直以來人們都無法較好地解釋為什么我們會過度自信，這一新模擬實驗為其提供了一種進(jìn)化上的理由。這種心理不大可能是意外，我們會過度自信，或許是有合理的原因的。”

短跑運動員尤塞恩 博爾特以其放松而自信的比賽狀態(tài)著稱，“最偉大的”拳擊手穆罕默德 阿里也是這樣。

不過，研究人員也要警告那些認(rèn)為自己可以比高速飛行的子彈還快，比機(jī)車還有力量，或能一跳就越過高樓的人。

積極的自我欺騙也會導(dǎo)致問題，并可能使人做出錯誤的決策、產(chǎn)生不切實際的期望、引發(fā)危險和造成失敗。

來源：中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津   編輯：許銀娟