The future of optimism.

Abstract

Recent theoretical discussions of optimism as an inherent aspect of human nature converge with empirical investigations of optimism as an individual difference to show that optimism can be a highly beneficial psychological characteristic linked to good mood, perseverance, achievement, and physical health. Questions remain about optimism as a research topic and more generally as a societal value. Is the meaning of optimism richer than its current conceptualization in cognitive terms? Are optimism and pessimism mutually exclusive? What is the relationship between optimism and reality, and what are the costs of optimistic beliefs that prove to be wrong? How can optimism be cultivated? How does optimism play itself out across different cultures? Optimism promises to be one of the important topics of interest to positive social science, as long as it is approached in an even-handed way.

Cites (22)

1. Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement.
   Rotter, Julian B. · 1966 · Psychological Monographs: General and Applied
2. Illusion and well‐being: A social psychological perspective on mental health
   Taylor, Shelley E., Brown, Jonathon D. · 1988 · Psychological Bulletin
3. Learned helplessness in humans: Critique and reformulation.
   Abramson, Lyn Y., Seligman, Martin E., Teasdale, John D. · 1978 · Journal of Abnormal Psychology
4. Optimism, coping, and health: Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies.
   Scheier, Michael F., Carver, Charles S. · 1985 · Health Psychology
5. What good are positive emotions?
   Fredrickson, Barbara L. · 1998 · Review of General Psychology
6. A theory of attention: Variations in the associability of stimuli with reinforcement
   Mackintosh, N. J. · 1975 · Psychological Review
7. Lifetime Prevalence of Specific Psychiatric Disorders in Three Sites
   Robins, Lee N. · 1984 · Archives of General Psychiatry
8. Learned helplessness: Theory and evidence
   Maier, Steven F., Seligman, Martin E. · 1976 · Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
9. Effects of optimism on psychological and physical well-being: theoretical overview and empirical update
   Scheier, Michael F., Carver, Charles S. · 1992 · Cognitive Therapy and Research
10. The totalitarian ego: Fabrication and revision of personal history.
    Greenwald, Anthony G. · 1980 · American Psychologist

Show all 22 references

Cited by (28)

1. Positive psychology: An introduction.
   Seligman, Martin E. P., Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly · 2000 · American Psychologist
2. POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL: MEASUREMENT AND RELATIONSHIP WITH PERFORMANCE AND SATISFACTION
   LUTHANS, FRED, AVOLIO, BRUCE J., AVEY, JAMES B., NORMAN, STEVEN M. · 2007 · Personnel Psychology
3. Unlocking the mask: A look at the process by which authentic leaders impact follower attitudes and behaviors
   Avolio, Bruce J., Gardner, William L., Walumbwa, Fred O., Luthans, Fred, May, Douglas R. · 2004 · The Leadership Quarterly
4. Resilience in the Face of Catastrophe: Optimism, Personality, and Coping in the Kosovo Crisis
   Riolli, Laura, Savicki, Victor, Cepani, Ariana · 2002 · Journal of Applied Social Psychology
5. Positive Psychology: An Introduction
   Seligman, Martin E. P., Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly · 2014 · Flow and the Foundations of Positive Psychology

See all 1,426