Dispositional Optimism[edit]
An optimist and a pessimist, Vladimir Makovsky, 1893
Researchers operationalize the term differently depending on their research. As with any trait characteristic, there are several ways to evaluate optimism, such as the Life Orientation Test (LOT).
Dispositional optimism and pessimism[6] are typically assessed by asking people whether they expect future outcomes to be beneficial or negative (see below). The LOT returns separate optimism and pessimism scores for each individual. Behaviourally, these two scores correlate around r = 0.5. Optimistic scores on this scale predict better outcomes in relationships,[7] higher social status,[8] and reduced loss of well-being following adversity.[9] Health preserving …show more content…
While related to life-orientation measures of optimism, attributional style theory suggests that dispositional optimism and pessimism are reflections of the ways in which people explain events, i.e. that attributions cause these dispositions[citation needed]. Measures of attributional style distinguish three dimensions among explanations for events: Whether these explanations draw on internal versus external causes; whether the causes are viewed as stable versus unstable; and whether explanations apply globally versus being situationally specific. In addition, the measures distinguish attributions for positive and for negative …show more content…
Some researchers argue that optimism is simply the lay-term for what researchers know as explanatory style.[15] More commonly, it is found that explanatory style is quite distinct from dispositional optimism,[16][17] and the two should not be used interchangeably as they are marginally correlated at best. More research is required to "bridge" or further differentiate these concepts.[13]
Origins of Optimism[edit]
Optimistic Personality (modified from [2])
As with all psychological traits, differences in both dispositional optimism and pessimism [2] and in attributional style [18] are heritable Both optimism and pessimism are strongly influenced by environmental factors, including family environment,.[2] It has been suggested that optimism may be indirectly inherited as a reflection of underlying heritable traits such as intelligence, temperament and alcoholism.[18] Many theories assume optimism can be learned,[4] and research supports a modest role of family-environment acting to raise (or lower) optimism and lower (or raise) neuroticism and pessimism.[2]
Work utilising brain imaging and biochemistry suggests that at a biological trait level, optimism and pessimism reflect brain systems specialised for the tasks of processing and incorporating beliefs regarding good and bad information
An optimist and a pessimist, Vladimir Makovsky, 1893
Researchers operationalize the term differently depending on their research. As with any trait characteristic, there are several ways to evaluate optimism, such as the Life Orientation Test (LOT).
Dispositional optimism and pessimism[6] are typically assessed by asking people whether they expect future outcomes to be beneficial or negative (see below). The LOT returns separate optimism and pessimism scores for each individual. Behaviourally, these two scores correlate around r = 0.5. Optimistic scores on this scale predict better outcomes in relationships,[7] higher social status,[8] and reduced loss of well-being following adversity.[9] Health preserving …show more content…
While related to life-orientation measures of optimism, attributional style theory suggests that dispositional optimism and pessimism are reflections of the ways in which people explain events, i.e. that attributions cause these dispositions[citation needed]. Measures of attributional style distinguish three dimensions among explanations for events: Whether these explanations draw on internal versus external causes; whether the causes are viewed as stable versus unstable; and whether explanations apply globally versus being situationally specific. In addition, the measures distinguish attributions for positive and for negative …show more content…
Some researchers argue that optimism is simply the lay-term for what researchers know as explanatory style.[15] More commonly, it is found that explanatory style is quite distinct from dispositional optimism,[16][17] and the two should not be used interchangeably as they are marginally correlated at best. More research is required to "bridge" or further differentiate these concepts.[13]
Origins of Optimism[edit]
Optimistic Personality (modified from [2])
As with all psychological traits, differences in both dispositional optimism and pessimism [2] and in attributional style [18] are heritable Both optimism and pessimism are strongly influenced by environmental factors, including family environment,.[2] It has been suggested that optimism may be indirectly inherited as a reflection of underlying heritable traits such as intelligence, temperament and alcoholism.[18] Many theories assume optimism can be learned,[4] and research supports a modest role of family-environment acting to raise (or lower) optimism and lower (or raise) neuroticism and pessimism.[2]
Work utilising brain imaging and biochemistry suggests that at a biological trait level, optimism and pessimism reflect brain systems specialised for the tasks of processing and incorporating beliefs regarding good and bad information