๐Ÿง ap psychology review

Overly optimistic

Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโ€ขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025

Definition

To be "overly optimistic" means to have an excessively positive or idealistic view of something, often disregarding potential flaws or limitations. In psychology, this refers to the belief that humanistic theories may portray human nature as inherently good and overlook the darker aspects of human behavior.

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