Taylor and Brown's concept of positive illusions (1988) was examined in two studies. It was predicted that more mentally healthy professional helpers (n = 103) than less mentally healthy clients (n = 89) (a) view themselves in more self-aggrandizing, positive terms and (b) hold a more optimistic view of their future. Two groups of participants from two culturally different settings, i.e., Canada and Korea, completed questionnaires assessing self-description of personality and view of their own futures. Analysis supported predictions for both Canadian and Korean samples. Implications of the study are discussed.
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