While people are often told to look on the bright side, the results of a recent University College London study reveal that too much positivity may get people in trouble.

In this study, which was published in Nature Neuroscience, Tali Sharot, a professor at the British institution, set out to learn why some people stay optimistic even in dire situations. Sharot and fellow scientists found that more optimistic individuals may only learn things that can reinforce their positive outlook on life.

"Our study suggests that we pick and choose the information that we listen to," Sharot said. "The more optimistic we are, the less likely we are to be influenced by negative information about the future."

According to Sharot, this positive attitude can prevent these individuals from developing stress and anxiety. At the same time, their outlook can prevent them from taking precautionary action. For instance, those who believe everything will turn out all right may not practice safe sex, or think about saving for their retirement.

Furthermore, some feel that the recent financial crisis was the result of optimistic analysts who overestimated their assets, even though others clearly saw signs of trouble on the horizon.

People who are curious to see if they are a little too optimistic may want to take a personality test. 

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