Is the glass half full or half empty? Ask most people and they’ll say “half full,” suggesting a natural bias toward optimism in humans. Research has shown that up to 80% of people in a study display characteristics of optimism.
Researchers think that this may be a part of our biological makeup, and are now looking at the brain for additional answers. From an evolutionary standpoint, it may make some sense. An optimist can view a situation, see the positive, and work toward achieving it. And therefore, possibly, surviving and thriving more than the pessimist.
An article that sheds some light on the optimism/pessimism biases in people appeared the other day in The Boston Globe:
Optimism — and pessimism — are considered stable personality traits, and it is unclear whether people can change their natural tendencies. Pessimists need not fret, however, because early research shows that gloomier outlooks may be advantageous in their own way.
But, perhaps more surprising, pessimism may serve a purpose as well:
Pessimism can be useful for some situations and people, said Wellesley psychologist Julie Norem, who studies a coping strategy that she calls defensive pessimism. When defensive pessimists think about the future, they imagine all the things that could go wrong and then plan for the worst-case scenario. Norem has found that, for people who are naturally anxious, defensive pessimism is actually a better coping strategy than optimism.
As the article notes, though, there are plenty of reasons to prefer optimism. There are a great many studies that have shown that people with rosy outlooks are healthier, with a reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and better lung function.
Read the full article at The Boston Globe: Scientists exploring why optimism is so prevalent
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3 Comments to
“Why Are We So Darned Optimistic?”
I do wish I were naturally more optimistic for the benefit of better lung function and not dying from heart disease, it’s nice to see that there is some gain to being pessimistic.
I always refused to address the water in that example, instead focusing on the fact that there was more glass than needed. 
While defensive pessimism does appear to prevent surprises and allows for one to be prepared like any good Scout, it feeds into the observer effect (or self fulfilling prophecy) and may promote something negative happening.
It also doesn’t feel good while performing the thinking (been there, done that?) and I much prefer the positive thinking and guiding of the events on my path.
The point is being happy. Pessimism just make you namby-pamby and listless. You feel pessimism when you know that your hopes are eager hopes ( you love somebody so crazily, but you know that he/she will never be with you, and you can do nothing about that).
We estimate our powers by the our performance as a neophyte, and if we fail, it is really hard to go on with optimism. We have to build a dike that pretect ourself from the flow of inevitable feelings, and this is very difficult.
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 3 Jun 2008
