Quote:
Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague
From where I stand, it's pretty simple psychology. If you're on the "more optimistic" side for the team you already are emotionally invested in - say you're a Flames fan with a brighter than normal opinion about the future of Flames prospects - that emotional investment is tied up in your optimistic position, too. As a result, you'll have a greater emotional reaction to someone criticizing that position. If you're on the pessimistic side for the team you're a fan of, your views are actually at odds with what you'd like to be the case - passion isn't influencing your views as much. The result is that the optimists are both more likely to perceive any criticism as a personal affront, and are more likely to respond in kind - that is to say, emotionally, with anger.
Of course, the inverse would be true also - if you're a Flames fan with a pessimistic opinion about the future of Oilers' prospects, for example.
Motivated reasoning. Can't avoid it.
|
Oh that's just so much bull####. I couldn't step foot into the game thread or PGTs last year because of all the "passion" being thrown all over the place by the pessimists.
And I'll say this, the pessimists around here last year were constantly angry. If anything, the optimists were saying "chill out, there's no need to get so angry about things. It'll get better....at some point".
However, if you're beaten over the head with enough angry negativity, an optimist just might respond in kind. That shouldn't be surprising.