Cult OPTIMISM What is optimism What is pessimism

Cult OPTIMISM

What is optimism? What is pessimism?

Definitions • Optimism is a state of hopefulness or confidence about the future • Pessimism is a tendency to focus on the negative side of things • Expect the worst outcome

Can being positive or receiving positive support influence your ability to do something?

Can being positive or receiving positive support influence your ability to do something?

Complete the questionnaire. SELF ASSE SSMENT

An explanatory style is the way in which you explain your circumstances to yourself.

Three Dimensions Personalization • How much you describe an outcome to be caused by factors within or outside yourself • Ask yourself: • Was the success or failure a result of my abilities or was it the result of external conditions? • Me or not me?

Three Dimensions Pervasiveness • How much you describe an outcome to persist globally, across all areas of your life, or locally, where the outcome is relevant only to a specific context • Ask yourself: • Everything or not everything?

Three Dimensions Permanence • How much you describe a situation as being permanent or temporary • Ask yourself: • Will this outcome persist indefinitely or is there an end in sight? • Always or not always?

Note Optimism and pessimism are simply two different explanatory styles that differ across all three dimensions (personalization, pervasiveness, permanence).

Explanatory Style. OPTIMISTIC PESSIMIST

Instructions • Two different situations : good and bad • Two different explanatory styles : optimistic and pessimistic • Identify how the optimistic and pessimistic thinker would explain the situation with regards to personalization, pervasiveness and permanence

Scenario 1 Bad Situation, Pessimistic Explanatory Style • Sally just got a science test back and she did not do good • Sally is a pessimistic thinker • How might Sally be explaining this situation? +

Personalization: Me or not me?

Answer ME: As a pessimistic thinker, Sally thinks that the bad grade is her own fault.

Pervasiveness: Everything or not everything?

Answer EVERYTHING: As a pessimistic thinker, Sally thinks that the bad grade will lead to negative events in other areas of her life (ex. sports, music, friends)

Permanence: Always or not always?

Answer ALWAYS: As a pessimistic thinker, Sally thinks that her future will be filled with negative events.

Scenario 2 Bad Situation, Optimistic Explanatory Style • Harrison just got a science test back and he did not do good • Harrison is an optimistic thinker • How might Harrison be explaining this situation? +

Personalization: Me or not me?

Answer NOT ME: As an optimistic thinker, Harrison attributes the bad grade to factors that are out of his control or to factors that are within his control and which he will change for the future.

Pervasiveness: Everything or not everything?

Answer NOT EVERYTHING : As an optimistic thinker, Harrison thinks that the bad grade is specific to this one situation.

Permanence: Always or not always?

Answer NOT ALWAYS: As an optimistic thinker, Harrison believes that this bad grade does not determine his future success.

Scenario 3 Good Situation, Pessimistic Explanatory Style • Griffin just heard that he made the school soccer team • Griffin is a pessimistic thinker • How might Griffin be explaining this situation? +

Personalization: Me or not me?

Answer NOT ME: As a pessimistic thinker, Griffin thinks that making it into the soccer team was pure luck or random chance.

Pervasiveness: Everything or not everything?

Answer NOT EVERYTHING : As a pessimistic thinker, Griffin thinks that this positive event is specific to the situation.

Permanence: Always or not always?

Answer NOT ALWAYS: As a pessimistic thinker, Griffin thinks that this positive event was a “one off” and won’t happen again in the future.

Scenario 4 Good Situation, Optimistic Explanatory Style • Mathilda just heard that she made the school soccer team • Mathilda is an optimistic thinker • How might Mathilda be explaining this situation? +

Personalization: Me or not me?

Answer ME: As an optimistic thinker, Mathilda attributes her success to her own abilities and hard work leading up to the tryouts.

Pervasiveness: Everything or not everything?

Answer EVERYTHING: As an optimistic thinker, Mathilda thinks of this success as evidence that she can do anything she puts her mind to.

Permanence: Always or not always?

Answer ALWAYS: As an optimistic thinker, Mathilda thinks that she will be successful in her future.

Summary Good Situation Bad Situation Optimistic Explanatory Style Me Always Everything Not Me Not Always Not Everything Pessimistic Explanatory Style Not Me Not Always Not Everything Me Always Everything

Is optimism a choice? Can you learn to be optimistic? TURN… YOUR