depressive realism??

Answer 1

I've read that some studies show that pessimists have a more accurate view of reality than optimists do -- and that depressed people have an even more accurate view. According to Wikipedia (link below), though, this finding is contested.

Answer 2

depressive: adj. .1. tending to depress.
2. characterized by depression, esp. mental depression.
realism: .1. interest in or concern for the actual or real, as distinguished from the abstract, speculative, etc.
2. the tendency to view or represent things as they really are.
also realism (philosophy): Philosophy
The scholastic doctrine, opposed to nominalism, that universals exist independently of their being thought.
The modern philosophical doctrine, opposed to idealism, that physical objects exist independently of their being perceived.

DEPRESSIVE REALISM: the tendency for mildly depressed people to make judgments that are typically more accurate than people who are not depressed. Those who are not depressed often make judgments and attributions that are self-serving. For example, if you did well on a psychology test you might say that you did so because you're a genius and know everything about psychology. This would be a pretty self-serving attribution, wouldn't you say? But a mildly depressed person who got an A might make a more accurate attribution such as saying it was not because she is a genius, but because she studied well or the test was particularly easy. Your way might make you feel better, but it also might be less accurate.

my input: so hmmm........ depressive realism: the truth is sad.