What is "wishful thinking"

n. 1 (context idiomatic psychology English) The illusion that what one would like is actually true. 2 (context idiomatic English) decision-making based on self-delusion.

n. the illusion that what you wish for is actually true

Wishful thinking is the formation of beliefs and making decisions according to what might be pleasing to imagine instead of by appealing to evidence, rationality, or reality. It is a product of resolving conflicts between belief and desire. Studies have consistently shown that holding all else equal, subjects will predict positive outcomes to be more likely than negative outcomes (see unrealistic optimism). However, new research suggests that under certain circumstances, such as when threat increases, a reverse phenomenon occurs.

Some psychologists believe that positive thinking is able to positively influence behavior and so bring about better results. This is called " Pygmalion effect".

Christopher Booker described wishful thinking in terms of

"the fantasy cycle" ... a pattern that recurs in personal lives, in politics, in history – and in storytelling. When we embark on a course of action which is unconsciously driven by wishful thinking, all may seem to go well for a time, in what may be called the "dream stage". But because this make-believe can never be reconciled with reality, it leads to a "frustration stage" as things start to go wrong, prompting a more determined effort to keep the fantasy in being. As reality presses in, it leads to a "nightmare stage" as everything goes wrong, culminating in an "explosion into reality", when the fantasy finally falls apart.

Wishful Thinking is a 1985 remix album by the synthpop band Propaganda.

Wishful thinking is the formation of beliefs according to what might be pleasing to imagine instead of by appealing to rationality.

Wishful Thinking may also refer to:

"Wishful Thinking" is a song by English band China Crisis, released as the third single from their 1983 album Working with Fire and Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume Two. It reached #9 in the UK charts in early 1984, becoming their only top 10 hit single in that country. The song is their biggest and most well-known hit, and is included on numerous compilation albums. It was a top 20 hit in several European countries and hit number 1 on the Swedish radio chart Poporama on 8 March 1984.

The lead vocal on this track is by Eddie Lundon who also wrote the lyrics, as opposed to Gary Daly who sings lead vocals on the majority of the band's songs.

The track "This Occupation" remains exclusive to this release and appears in two very different forms on the 7" and 12" releases.

The track "Some People I Know to Lead Fantastic Lives" is taken from the band's debut album Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain, although the remix on this 12" single remains exclusive to this release.

"Wishful Thinking" is a song written and performed by Duncan Sheik for the soundtrack to the 1998 motion picture Great Expectations starring Ethan Hawke, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Robert De Niro. The song was released as the only radio single from the soundtrack.

Wishful Thinking is the 10th studio album by Earl Klugh released in 1984, and is the final album which Klugh recorded for Capitol Records. The album represents a summation of Klugh as a guitarist and composer, and features a variety of musical styles, including pop, classical, jazz, blues, reggae and funk. The songs are textually orchestrated with strings and harps, conducted and arranged by Johnny Mandel, David Matthews and Grammy Award winner Don Sebesky. Saxophonist David Sanborn joins Klugh on the song "The Only One for Me" on alto saxophone.

Wishful Thinking is a 1997 romantic comedy starring Jennifer Beals, Drew Barrymore, Jon Stewart, and James LeGros. When her projectionist boyfriend, Max ( James LeGros), is unwilling to commit to marriage, veterinarian Elizabeth (Jennifer Beals) questions their relationship. Max's co-worker Lena ( Drew Barrymore) takes advantage of his romantic troubles and pursues him, playing on his fear that Elizabeth is having an affair with her friend Jack ( Eric Thal). Depressed by Max's increasing jealousy, Elizabeth considers breaking up with him after she meets the amiable Henry ( Jon Stewart).

Wishful Thinking is the debut studio album from Welsh rock band Neck Deep. Vocalist Ben Barlow met guitarist Lloyd Roberts when Roberts was working with Barlow's brother, Seb. Following the upload of a song under the artist name Neck Deep, the song gained attention. This attention resulted in the duo obtaining guitarist Matt West, drummer Dani Washington and bassist Fil Thorpe-Evans. The band released two EPs, Rain in July (2012) and A History of Bad Decisions. In March 2013 the band started recording material at Celestial Recordings, in Wrexham, where they recorded guitar, bass and vocals. The group then moved to Outhouse Studio, in Reading, where they recorded drums. Material was produced by Seb Barlow and the band. In mid-August, the group had signed to Hopeless, and by late August, they announced the album had been had finished.

"Crushing Grief (No Remedy)" was released as a single in October 2013. Following this the band toured the UK and Australia. "Growing Pains" was released as a single in December. In early January 2014 Wishful Thinking was made available for streaming, and the group went on a headlining tour of the UK. The album was released a week after the stream. The success of the album resulted in the band moved from a "fun, part-time [entity]", as Barlow called it, to a full-time thing. Also due to the success, Thorpe-Evans, West and Roberts quit their jobs, Washington turned down a place at the Academy of Contemporary Music, and Barlow dropped out of university. "Losing Teeth" was released as a single in July.

Wishful Thinking (or Wishful) were an Australian three-piece pop-punk band which formed in Tasmania in 1998 and disbanded in 2006. The line-up included Alistair Elkins on bass guitar, Carl Jackson on lead vocals and Leigh Thompson on drums. In 2002 Carlos Echeverria replaced Elkins on bass guitar. They were one of Australia's "buzz" punk/pop acts and were signed to Boomtown Records. Wishful Thinking's musical style was pop punk and followed in the style of such bands like Blink 182 and New Found Glory.

Wishful Thinking shared stages and toured with such bands, including Millencolin, MXPX, Kisschasy, Area-7, Gyroscope, All Star United, Relient K, The O.C. Supertones, and Antiskeptic.

Wishful Thinking also had rotation on the radio stations Triple M and Triple J, with their single 'I Don't Need You' which was released in 2003 and their single 'The Day You Went Away' in 2004.

Tim Cashmere of Undercover News reviewed their debut album, Standing Still (2003); he described them as a "Christian-punk act" and felt the album was "none-too-shabby, albeit none-too-original either... The god-fearing punk beats of Wishful Thinking makes an interesting point of difference." Ben Seifu of vibewire.net noticed that "the production is quite professional without being too smooth or processed. The drums in particular are captured reasonably well. But beyond that Standing Still is pretty standard pop punk stuff." Jasper Lee of Oz Music Project opined that it "oozes of punk pop goodness that echoes heroes of said genre such as MXPX. The band's strength lies in their combination of consistent punk power chords with a lyrical depth underpinning their spiritual beliefs."

Steph Brincat of Oz Music Project reviewed the group's second album, Kicking Goals, Banging Gongs & High Five All Round, rating it at four out of five due to the "classic pop-punk sound that we have all come to know and love, without making it sound horrible and generic, and I assure you that I am not being sarcastic or ironic. The music is tight and although it doesn’t stray from the usual pop-punk recipe of repetitive yet catchy bass, guitar and drum explosion, there is variation in their tunes such as interesting little guitar licks and bass solos."

The band reformed for a once-off show in August 2013 at the Adelaide Uni Bar with S.T.R.