So what comes naturally to people is pessimism. What needs teaching, because it doesn't come naturally, is optimism. When you look at pessimistic people, probably the single [most-telling] hallmark is they think that bad events are permanent and that they're unchangeable. So what learned optimism is all about is recognizing that you're saying that to yourself, and then realistically arguing against it. I have to argue against it. By The Editors of GQ. So is this at odds with something like mindfulness, which argues you should be present in the moment?
If you're focusing on optimism, you're also sort of missing the present moment, right? Well, I think, if you look at what people are doing, and what you're doing right now when we're talking, you're prospecting into the future. You're not living in the moment of this interview. You're saying, "What is Seligman saying that I can use, or write about?
And so, the notion that we should live more and more in the moment denies what, evolutionarily, we're really good at. What distinguishes human beings from all of the other animals is that we're creatures of the future. I'm not impressed by our wisdom and knowledge. But I am impressed [by] how much of our mental life is about the future.
By studying a group of identical twins like Debbie and Trudi, Prof Tim Spector, based at St Thomas' hospital in London, has been trying to answer fundamental questions about how our personality is formed. Why are some people more positive about life than others?
Spector has been able to identify a handful of genes which are switched on in one twin and not the other. Twin studies suggest that, when it comes to personality, about half the differences between us are because of genetic factors.
But Spector points out that throughout our lives, in response to environmental factors, our genes are constantly being dialled up and down as with a dimmer switch, a process known as epigenetics. With twins like Trudi and Debbie they have found changes in just five genes in the brain's hippocampus which they believe have triggered depression in Debbie. Spector, who describes himself as an optimist, hopes that this research will lead to improved treatments for depression and anxiety.
We now know there are these mini mechanisms that can switch them on and off. We're regaining control, if you like, of our genes. Even more surprising is research which has identified changes in the activity of genes caused by the presence or absence of maternal love.
Prof Michael Meaney, from McGill University in Canada, is investigating ways to measure how many glucocorticoid receptors are activated in someone's brain. The number of active glucocorticoid receptors is an indicator of that person's ability to withstand stress. Fuschia Sirois does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
How many times have you been told that something great will happen as long as you believe it is possible? But what about the people who tend to see the glass as half empty rather than half full? Is being pessimistic always such a bad thing? Actually, the latest research suggests that some forms of pessimism may have benefits. Personality science has revealed it also includes a focus on outcomes — that is what you expect will happen in the future.
While optimists expect positive outcomes will happen more often than not, pessimists expect negative outcomes are more likely. Research has shown that this way of thinking can not only help them succeed, but also bring some rather unexpected rewards. However, the other main form of pessimism, which involves simply blaming oneself for negative outcomes , has less positive effects.
How can you tell if you tend to be more pessimistic? Some signs include:. While you may not experience all of these things or think this way all of the time, pessimists tend to engage in many of these types of thinking to some degree. Psychologists view pessimism and optimism as a spectrum with each of our viewpoints and personalities situated somewhere along that line.
At either end of the spectrum, the pure pessimist may be miserable and the pure optimist may be detached from reality. Everyone has their ups and downs when thinking is more negative or positive. Life circumstances and the effects of time and experience can also impact our relative pessimism or optimism.
People are also often more optimistic about one area of life and less optimistic about another. However, people's moods and thinking usually lean toward one end or the other of that spectrum resulting in personalities that are more or less pessimistic or optimistic.
There are many reasons why certain people end up with a more or less negative personality, including:. Those with more pessimistic outlooks tend to have lower social support, lower resilience, lower ability to cope with stress, and a greater propensity for depression and anxiety disorders.
One key difference between how an optimist and a pessimist thinks has to do with their explanatory style , which is essentially the way people interpret what happens in their lives. An optimist will take positive events and magnify them while minimizing the negative in a situation; a pessimist will do the opposite and downplay the positive while heightening focus on the negative.
The tendency to minimize the negative—one of the traits of optimists that encourages optimists to dream big and emboldens them to keep on trying even after they face setbacks—can also produce a false sense of security that may cause optimists to fail to conceive of possible difficulties and plan for them. However, these very traits—minimizing the negative and maximizing the positive—can help an optimist through tough times that could send a pessimist to a darker, more helpless place.
Numerous studies have pointed to the conclusion that it's more important for good health to be less pessimistic than it is to be more optimistic. The key seems to come from limiting the negative health impact of overly pessimistic thoughts, while purely positive thinking doesn't have as big an effect. While the factors that contribute to pessimism are mostly negative, pessimism does have an upside. In fact, there can be some real benefits to a healthy dose of pessimism.
Specifically, pessimists are often better prepared for tough times and may avoid risks that more optimistic thinkers might ignore. Research has shown that pessimists tend to foresee obstacles more readily since they expect things to go wrong. This means that they are more likely to plan for difficulties. A study in Psychology and Aging found a correlation between underestimating future life satisfaction with positive health outcomes and longevity in older adults.
There are many clear drawbacks of too much pessimism. Some of the major pitfalls of being overly pessimistic:. Optimists experience healthier stress levels and a higher perception of life satisfaction.
Conversely, pessimistic people tend to experience more isolation, greater conflict and stress, poorer health, and reduced well-being. A study found that "higher optimism was associated with better physiological adjustment to a stressful situation, while higher pessimism was associated with worse psychological adjustment to stress. Another worrisome component of pessimism is that it may make stressful situations feel worse than they actually are. On the other hand, more optimistic thinking can help significantly when coping with challenging events.
Looked at a certain way, one of the biggest risks of being a pessimist is not being an optimist.
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