Exploring Optimism

Exploring Optimism
Happiness is a feeling; optimism and hope are a positive thought processes that
contribute to happiness. Hope and optimism are both virtues that work as a catalyst to move
an individual forward toward a goal or desire. Optimism is viewing a situation in a positive
way and the belief that the result will be favorable. Optimism can be viewed as the
confidence one has in expecting a positive outcome. Hope correlates with optimism in that a
person who is hopeful is likely to also be optimistic (Baumgardner & Crothers, 2009). An
example of optimism is My grade is low but I am doing my best and I will pass this class.
An example of hopelessness is The class is almost over and I dont see any chance of
getting though it. Without hope an individual tends to becomes depressed and have feelings
of despair.
Since optimism and hope are both positive how is it that a negative result could occur.
Lets use the scenario of Jack and Jill. Jack is dying from an incurable disease but is
optimistic that the prognosis is wrong. He approaches each day with hope and optimism;
both keep him happy and living each day to the fullest until the moment he dies. Optimism
allowed him to be in a positive state of well-being. Jill takes the same approach of remaining
optimistic toward Jacks illness. When Jack dies Jill finds herself unable to cope because she
was unprepared mentally for Jacks death. Her sense of optimism blocked her ability to
perceive reality.
Defensive pessimism can be summed up as self-preservation because it allows an
individual to use his or her pessimism for motivation. An individual needs a sense of
defensive pessimism to retain a healthy perspective of reality and feel empathy toward

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others. Without defensive pessimism a person can become arrogant and feel above others.
Defensive pessimism can also bring about positive results. As an example, Jack has to write a
paper but doubts his ability. In the past his grades had remained high but a current course is
not going well. Jack is anxious and filled with doubt while doing his assignments. Jacks
awareness of the importance of getting a passing grade combined with anxiety drives him to
devote extra time to his assignments. Jack was experiencing one of the three positive
functions of defensive pessimism by anticipating and reflecting on worst-case results so he
could prepare and try to prevent a low grade or failing the class (Baumgardner & Crothers,
2009).

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Reference
Baumgardner, S. R. and Crothers, M. .K. (2009). Positive psychology.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.