Pessimism bias
Pessimism bias is overestimating the chance that bad things will happen to you. It is the opposite of optimism bias and is more common in people who are depressed or anxious.
In everyday life
Someone with a minor cough becomes convinced it is a serious illness and expects the worst from every test.
Before every job interview, you are certain you will be turned down, even though most companies you have interviewed with made you an offer.
Why your mind does this
Imagining the past and the future is hard, so the brain uses the present as a template. Assuming things will stay roughly as they are now is a quick and usually workable guide. Making sense of events after the fact also helps us learn lessons and feel in control.
Its family, in 30 seconds: Projecting ourselves
How to spot it
Ask what your actual track record says, and whether your forecast is darker than the evidence.
How to counter it
Write down your worst-case prediction and check later how often predictions like it came true.
Same family: Projecting ourselves
SourcesStrunk et al. (2006)·Wikipedia