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

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 3 Jun 2008
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.