Optimism Definition Essay

Optimism is a kind attitude or world view that interprets situations and events as being outstrip (optimized), meaning that in some way for factors that may non be fully comprehended, the present moment is in an optimum aver. The concept is typic eithery extended to include the attitude of hope for future conditions unfolding as optimal as well. The much broad concept of optimism is the understanding that all of nature, past, present and future, operates by laws of optimisation along the lines of Hamiltons principle of optimization in the realm of physics. This understanding, although criticized by counter views such as pessimism, high-mindedness and realism, perishs to a state of mind that believes everything is as it should be, and that the future will be as well. A common idiom used to illustrate optimism versus pessimism is a chicken feed with water at the halfway point, where the optimist is said to see the glass as half full, but the pessimist sees the glass as half e mpty.The pronounce is originally derived from the Latin optimum, meaning top hat. Being pollyannaish, in the typical moxie of the word, ultimately means one expects the surmount possible outcome from each given situation. This is usually referred to in psychology as dispositional optimism. Researchers some sentences operationalize the bound differently depending on their query, however. For example, Martin Seligman and his fellow researchers specify it in price of informative sort, which is base on the way one explains bread and butter events.As for any characteristic characteristic, there be several ways to evaluate optimism, such as various forms of the Life orientation Test, for the original definition of optimism, or the Attributional Style Questionnaire knowing to test optimism in terms of informative style. epoch the heritability of optimism is largely debatable, most researchers agree that it seems to be a biological trait to some small degree, but it is also thought that optimism has more to do withenvironmental factors, making it a largely learned trait.1 It has also been suggested that optimism could appear to be a hereditary trait because it is actually a manifestation of have traits that be mostly heritable, like intelligence, temperament and alcoholism.2 Optimism may also be linked to health.Explanatory styleExplanatory style is different, though connect to, the more traditional, narrower definition of optimism. This broader concept is establish on the theory that optimism and pessimism be drawn from the particular way people explain events. on that point atomic number 18 three dimensions within typical explanations, which include internal versus external, stable versus unstable, and international versus specific. Optimistic justifications toward ban experiences are attributed to factors outside the self (external), are non likely to occur consistently (unstable), and are limited specific life domains (specific). Posi tive experiences would be optimistically labeled as the opposite internal, stable, global.4There is much debate about the relationship between explanatory style and optimism. Some researchers ask that there is non much difference at all optimism is just the lay term for what scientists call explanatory style.5 Others argue that explanatory style is exclusive to its concept and should not be convertible with optimism.67 It is generally thought that, though they should not be used interchangeably, dispositional optimism and explanatory style are at least marginally related. Ultimately, the problem is alone that more research must be done to either define a bridge or further differentiate between these concepts. philosophyPhilosophers often link concept of optimism with the name of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who held that we live in the best of all possible worlds, or that God created a physical being that applies the laws of physics, which Voltaire famously mocked in his satirica l novel Candide. The philosophical pessimism of William Godwin demonstrated possibly even more optimism than Leibniz. He hoped that society would in conclusion reach the state where calm reason would replace all violence and force, that mind could eventually make matter subservient to it, and that intelligence could discover the secret of immortality. untold of this philosophy is exemplified in the Houyhnhnms of Jonathan Swifts Gullivers Travels.PanglossianismThe term panglossianism differentiates uncivilized optimism of the sort exemplified by the beliefs of Pangloss from Voltaires Candide, which are the opposite of his fellow traveller Martins pessimism and emphasis on free will. The phrase panglossian pessimism has been used to describe the pessimistic position that, since this is the best of all possible worlds, it is impossible for anything to outfox any better. The panglossian paradigm is a term coined by Stephen Jay Gould and Richard Lewontin to refer to the pattern t hat everything has specifically adapted to suit specific purposes. Instead, they argue, accidents and exaptation (the use of old features for new-fangled purposes) play an important role in the process of evolution.Some different scientists however argue the implication that many (or most) adaptionists are panglossians is a stem man. Why People Believe Weird Things Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time Michael Shermer relates straight-from-the-shoulder J. Tipler to Voltaires character Pangloss to show how clever people deceive themselves. Shermer explores the psychology of scholars and business men who give up their careers in their hobby to circularize their paranormal beliefs. In his last chapter, added to the revised version, Shermer explains that smart people potentiometer be more susceptible to believing in weird things.OptimalismOptimalism, as defined by Nicholas Rescher, holds that this universe exists because it is better than the alternatives. 8 While this philosophy does not exclude the possibility of a deity, it also doesnt require one, and is matched with atheism.9 The positive psychologist Tal Ben-Shahar uses optimalism to mean willingness to accept failure while remaining positive that success will follow, a positive attitude he contrasts with prejudicial perfectionism.10 Perfectionism can be defined as a persistent supreme drive toward unattainable goals and valuation based solely in terms of accomplishment.11 Perfectionists reject the realities and constraints of human ability. They cannot accept failures, delaying any ambitious and productive doings in fear of failure again. 12This neuroticism can even lead to clinical depression and low productivity.13As an alternative to negative perfectionism Ben-Shahar suggests the bankers acceptance of optimalism. Optimalism allows for failure in pursuit of a goal, and expects that while the trend of application will tend towards the positive it is not necessary to alw ays get ahead while striving to attain goals. This basis in reality prevents the optimalist from being overwhelmed in the face of failure.10 Optimalists accept failures and also learn from them, which encourages further pursuit of achievement.14 Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar believes that Optimalists and Perfectionists show distinct different motives. Optimalists tend to have more intrinsic, internal desires, with a motivation to learn. While perfectionists are highly motivated by a need to consistently prove themselves worthy.AssessmentLife Orientation Test ( freshet)Designed by Scheier and Carver (1985), this is one of the more favourite tests of optimism and pessimism. There are eight measurements (and an additional quartette filler items), with four positively (In un certain times, I usually expect the best) and four negatively (If something can go wrong for me, it will) worded items.15 The LOT has been revised twiceonce by the original creators (LOT-R) and also by Chang, Maydeu-Olivare s, and DZurilla as the Extended Life Orientation Test (ELOT). all(prenominal) three are most commonly used because they are based on dispositional optimism, which simply means expecting positive outcomes.16Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ)This questionnaire created by Peterson et al. (1982) is based on the explanatory style definition of optimism. It lists six positive and negative events (you have been looking for a job unsuccessfully for some time), and asks the respondents to record a possible cause for the event and rate the internality, stability, and globality of the event.17 An optimistic person is one who perceives good things happening to them as internal, stable, and global. There are several modified versions of the ASQ including the Expanded Attributional Style Questionnaire (EASQ), theContent Analysis of Verbatim Explanations (CAVE), and the ASQ designed for testing the optimism for children.16HealthResearch has turn upd showing the relationships between several psychological constructs and health. Optimism is one of these concepts and has been shown to explain between 510% of the variation in the likelihood of developing some health conditions (correlation coefficients between .20 and .30),18 notably including cardiovascular sickness,1920212223 stroke,24depression,2526 and cancer.212728 Furthermore, optimists have been shown to live healthier lifestyles which may influence disease. For example, optimists smoke less, are more physically active, consume more fruit, vegetables and whole-grain bread, and consume more comprise amounts of alcohol.29The relationship between optimism and health has also been studied with regards to physical symptoms, make out strategies and negative affect for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and fibromyalgia. It has been found that among individuals with these diseases, optimists are not more likely than pessimists to report pain alleviation due to cope strategies, despite differences in ps ychological well-being between the two groups.30 A meta-analysis has confirmed the assumption that optimism is related to psychological well-being Put simply, optimists emerge from difficult circumstances with less distress than do pessimists.31Furthermore, the correlation appears to be attributable to coping style That is, optimists seem intent on face problems head-on, taking active and constructive steps to solve their problems pessimists are more likely to abandon their effort to attain their goals.31 It should be noted that research to date has demonstrated that optimists are less likely to have certain diseases or develop certain diseases over time. By comparison, research has not yet been able to demonstrate the ability to change an individuals level of optimism through psychological intervention, and thereby alter the course of disease or likelihood for development of disease.