Distinguishing optimism from pessimism: Relations to fundamental dimensions of mood and personality.
Abstract
Contrary to unidimensional conceptions of optimism and pessimism, factor analysis of 2 widely used instruments revealed that optimism and pessimism are empirically differentiable, but related, constructs. Moreover, consistent with expectations, optimism and pessimism were differentially linked with fundamental dimensions of mood and personality. Pessimism was principally associated with neuroticism and negative affect. Optimism was primarily associated with extraversion and positive affect. Findings are discussed with reference to current conceptual and measurement models of optimism and pessimism and their relations to broad dimensions of mood and personality
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- Authors
- Marshall, G. N., Wortman, C. B., Kusulas, J. W., Hervig, L. K., & Vickers, R. R.
- Affiliations
- RAND Corporation (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Published
- 1992-06
- Volume
- 62
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1067-1074
- ISSN
- 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1315
- OpenAlex
- W2085598592
- Cited by
- 568
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 19.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- optimism, pessimism, mood, personality, neuroticism, extraversion, positive affect, negative affect, Big Five personality traits
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