ECE College Program Curriculum Module 3 Explanatory Style

ECE College Program Curriculum Module 3 Explanatory Style & Putting It In Perspective

Beliefs Involved in Resilient Thinking l Optimism vs. Pessimism l Self-efficacy vs. Helplessness l Hardiness Control Commitment Challenge 3

Optimism & Resilience l Hopeful outlook l Capable rather than helpless l Better adjustment to stress & negative events Lower risk of anxiety & depression Better physical health 4

Self Efficacy & Resilience l Beliefs about: our ability to cope resources available l 5 Predict feelings & behaviour

3 C’s of Hardiness Commitment Resilient people believe what they do is important Control Resilient people believe they can influence outcomes Challenge Resilient people consider a demand to be a challenge rather than a threat 6 Kobasa, S. C. , Maddi, S. R. , Puccetti, M. C. & Zola, M. A. 1985. Effectiveness of hardiness, exercise and social support resources against illness. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 29, 525 -533.

Explanations of Negative Events Negative explanatory style is related to: Lower grades Lower immune system functioning More visits to doctors Poor health in middle & late adulthood Depression 7

Dimensions of Explanatory Style l Personalization Who l Permanence How l long will it last? Pervasiveness How 8 is to blame? much of my life will be affected? Seligman, M. E. P. , Reivich, K. , Jaycox, L. & Gillham, J. 1995. The Optimistic Child. New York: Harper Perennial.

Elements of a Negative Explanatory Style 9 l Belief that blame rests squarely on some personal characteristic of oneself l Belief that problems are long-lasting l Belief that problems affect all aspects of one’s life

Accurate & Flexible Explanations 10 l Take into account possibility of multiple causes l Assess problems as temporary l Understand that problems affect only some areas of one’s life

Why Do We Develop Inaccurate Thinking Habits? 11 l Humans seem compelled to explain the world around them l Often we do not have complete information l Number of explanations is high l We develop short cuts in our thinking

Development of a Negative Explanatory Style 12 l Biological influences l Parenting style – modeling l Attachment relationships l Predictability of early childhood environments

Increasing the Accuracy of Our Explanations Ask three questions: 1. Who is to blame? Consider multiple causes 2. How long will it last? Be realistic, consider your capacity to adjust 3. How much of my life will be affected? Think about areas of your life that will be affected the least 13 Seligman, M. E. P. , Reivich, K. , Jaycox, L. & Gillham, J. 1995. The Optimistic Child. New York: Harper Perennial.

Putting it In Perspective Seligman’s Six Questions: 14 1. What is the worst thing that can happen? 2. What is one thing I can do to help stop the worst thing from happening? 3. What is the best thing that can happen? 4. What is one thing I can do to make the best thing happen? 5. What is the most likely thing that will happen? 6. What can I do to handle the most likely thing if it happens? Seligman, M. E. P. , Reivich, K. , Jaycox, L. & Gillham, J. 1995. The Optimistic Child. New York: Harper Perennial.