The final exam results are announced, not only the quality of the results, but also the expectation that expectations may lead to anxiety

How we learn from the false expectations we face in the real world varies from person to person
.
Some people may have an optimistic view of life, while others may have a pessimistic view
of life.

Psychology researchers have analyzed how predictions and expectations affect an individual's mood and outlook in a controlled laboratory setting, but researchers at the University of Miami decided to investigate the ups and downs
of human expectations with what matters most to undergraduates — test scores.

"Whether we realize it or not, we're always forming expectations," said Aaron Heller, senior author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Psychology
.
"Whenever our expectations turn out to be wrong, they become a learning signal that allows us to form better expectations
in the future.
"

While previous prediction error studies conducted in the lab used simulated scenarios, Heller and his team decided to take a more natural approach, analyzing students' expectations
of test score predictions as they take chemistry classes at the University of Miami.

To help the researchers collect data, students agreed to share scores
from the four exams they took throughout the semester.
At the end of each exam, students send Heller and his team the scores they want to score on the test
, from 0 to 100.
In a small lab study of how people learn from these anticipatory behaviors, the data showed that people exhibited what is known as an "optimistic learning bias," meaning they tended to learn more from positive surprises than from negative ones
.

In a study of students, Heller found similar results
.
Overall, most students exhibited an optimistic learning bias, and when they did better than expected, they learned more
than they did poorly.
However, there is another group of students who have been pessimistic throughout the semester
.

"When more optimistic students get scores that fall short of their expectations, they change their expectations appropriately, but don't over-correct those disappointments
on the next exam.
" But the more pessimistic students tend to predict that they will get lower scores on the following exams, even if they end up with slightly higher
grades than they predicted.
Heller said
.
This leads them to be more inaccurate in their overall expectations, and because of the way they learn, they predict whether students will experience anxiety symptoms
later in life.
”

Essentially, this study provides evidence that an individual's positive and negative emotions are influenced not only by the test scores they get, but also by the results they expect
.

"Helping people have more accurate expectations is an important option
for treating conditions such as anxiety and depression," Heller said.