Self-regulation is the process through which people tend to focus primarily on controlling and directing their actions in the way of goal achievement (Fiske & Taylor, 1991). Peterson (2000) stated that when regarded as a stable trait, optimism may assist individuals in regulating their own behavior. Also, in challenging and threatening environments, optimists tend to assert more confidence, more goal directed behavior, and have belief that adversity can be overcome (Carver & Scheier, 2001). Optimism plays a critical role in the initiation of goal directed behavior. Optimism plays a part in the current theories of self-regulation. According to Seligman (1994), optimism has the tendency to influence self-regulation when people encounter
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With any viewpoint, the humanistic perspective has had several criticisms in the past. This perspective has lost its power and influence in American psychology today (Johnson, 2006) It is not as strong because it is innately incompatible with the basic assumptions and values. For many years, this approach rejected the scientific method as being appropriate for humans, which caused psychologists to look for more innovative methods. This perspective offers an important counterbalance to more deterministic approaches, but has some drawbacks. Furthermore, the terminology is not as defined clearly as others, therefore it is very difficult to test, hence the fact that there is a measure of self-actualization called the Personal Orientation Inventory (Johnson, 2006). Also, another drawback would be that its concepts are entirely too vague. Critics have argued that subjective ideas are difficult to objectify. An experience that is real for one person may not be real for the next. In addition, critics also say that the humanistic perspective is unreliable because it involves too much common sense and not enough objectivity (Johnson,
With any viewpoint, the humanistic perspective has had several criticisms in the past. This perspective has lost its power and influence in American psychology today (Johnson, 2006) It is not as strong because it is innately incompatible with the basic assumptions and values. For many years, this approach rejected the scientific method as being appropriate for humans, which caused psychologists to look for more innovative methods. This perspective offers an important counterbalance to more deterministic approaches, but has some drawbacks. Furthermore, the terminology is not as defined clearly as others, therefore it is very difficult to test, hence the fact that there is a measure of self-actualization called the Personal Orientation Inventory (Johnson, 2006). Also, another drawback would be that its concepts are entirely too vague. Critics have argued that subjective ideas are difficult to objectify. An experience that is real for one person may not be real for the next. In addition, critics also say that the humanistic perspective is unreliable because it involves too much common sense and not enough objectivity (Johnson,