The "healthy" illusions include an unrealistically positive view of oneself, an exaggerated sense of control and an unfounded optimism.

In certain parts, it evokes the airy, unfounded optimism of a Presidential press conference; at nearly every turn, it communicates a heart-felt professional competence and predictability that makes you uneasy.

Only when they arrived at her flat did it emerge that his high spirits stemmed more from unfounded optimism than from job satisfaction.

Or it may instead be one of compliance, passivity, and disinterest, or of denial, shal- lowness, and unfounded optimism.

Chen was tempted to laugh at the American woman's unfounded optimism.

Or sometimes they looked away, worn down by his unfounded optimism.

But sometimes, we just try too long and too often ... The system is gripped by an unfounded optimism of the capacity of parents to change.

The dusk of spring in the city charged him with unfounded optimism.

Mr. Bush did well to characterize the package as "a cruel hoax" and deflate unfounded and divisive optimism.

It was a mix of overstated need, selfish justification, and unfounded optimism that he could pull off the plan that he had just conceived in a larcenous epiphany.