People generally believe that their own future will be better than the one of comparable others. Robust evidence documents such unrealistic optimism in many domains of life. Here, we examine how unrealistic optimism may affect people’s risk assessments of COVID-19 infection as well as their attitudes regarding behaviours intended to protect against contagion. In two studies conducted in the USA (N = 160) and UK (N = 161), at different times during the pandemic, we show that participants considered the likelihood of contracting and carrying the infection lower for themselves and their close other compared to an acquaintance, while they considered the likelihood of engaging in protective behaviours higher for themselves and their close other than an acquaintance. The findings document unrealistic optimism in relation to COVID-19. Such biases are particularly critical in relation to infectious diseases, where underestimating the risk for both oneself and close others may reduce precautions and increase virus spreading.

人们普遍认为自己的未来会比可比的其他人更好。确凿的证据表明，生活的许多领域都存在这种不切实际的乐观情绪。在这里，我们研究了不切实际的乐观主义如何影响人们对 COVID-19 感染的风险评估以及他们对旨在防止传染的行为的态度。在美国 ( N  = 160) 和英国 ( N = 161），在大流行期间的不同时间，我们表明参与者认为与熟人相比，他们自己和他们的亲密其他人感染和携带感染的可能性较低，而他们认为自己和他们进行保护行为的可能性更高除了熟人之外，他们是最亲密的人。调查结果记录了与 COVID-19 相关的不切实际的乐观情绪。这种偏见在传染病方面尤为严重，低估自己和亲近他人的风险可能会减少预防措施并增加病毒传播。