What is a common cognitive bias that reinforces the belief in unattainable outcomes based on personal optimism?

The belief in unattainable outcomes fueled by personal optimism is commonly aligned with wishful thinking. This cognitive bias occurs when a person believes that simply wishing for a certain outcome or event will make it more likely to happen, regardless of the actual odds. Wishful thinking disregards realistic assessments and can lead individuals to pursue goals that are improbable or unattainable, driven by an overly optimistic outlook.

In this context, wishful thinking often results in people ignoring risks or contrary evidence and focusing solely on their desires, which can lead to poor decision-making or disappointments. This tendency to think positively without acknowledging the limitations or challenges associated with an outcome exemplifies the cognitive distortion that comes with wishful thinking.

Other options describe different cognitive biases: overconfidence bias relates more to an exaggerated belief in one's abilities, the illusion of control refers to the belief that one can influence outcomes in uncontrollable situations, and optimism bias involves a belief that one is less likely to experience negative events compared to others. Each of these biases operates in distinct ways but does not focus specifically on the unattainable outcomes tied to mere personal optimism as wishful thinking does.