How Does Optimism Affect An Individual's Life

ABSTRACT: This paper is on optimism and its effect on an individual’s life. Hope and optimism are valued as strengths by most cultures. Though optimism as the general expectation for the best is seen in people to be optimistic about the future there is a tendency seen to shift from this under certain circumstances. This paper not only focuses on how optimism is developed and promoted in the youth but also about how certain circumstances in an individual’s life results in over optimism thus leading to unrealistic optimism which in turn tends to affect an individual’s life.

KEYWORDS: Optimism, pessimism, unrealistic optimism

INTRODUCTION
Every individual is faced with circumstances or situations that are either taken optimistically or pessimistically

Optimism is defined as the tendency to expect the best. Positive expectations closely relate to self efficacy, expecting one’s behaviour to be effective (Bandura, 1997). The paper highlights on how people with high self efficacy are high on optimism as they can solve problems and take control of events where in turn both being important in resilience (Reivich, & Shatte, 2002). Optimistic individuals are said to be more successful in school, work, playfield ((Rettew, Reivich, & Schulman, 1995), with greater satisfaction in marriage, physical health and live longer than less optimistic or pessimistic people who are subjected to depression and anxiety (Buchanan, 1995; Fincham, &Bradbury, 1987; Peterson, & Bossio, 1991; Peterson, Seligman, &Vaillant, 1988; Scheier, & Carver, 1992). The paper suggests a combination of genetic and environmental factors to be the cause for predispositions of optimism. The twin studies suggested having a heritable component (Schulman, Keith, & Seligman, 1991) and 25% of variability in optimism is estimated to be due to genetic factors ( Plomin et al., 1992). Negative life events and parenting factors contribute to development of optimism. The paper emphasises on how children also learn to be pessimistic or optimistic from teachers, peers and other community members where children in a study have

Coelho to critically approach and analyse the importance and effect of unrealistic optimism in economic and managerial contexts. The paper challenges the neo classical economic approach where “According to popular belief, people tend to think they are invulnerable. They expect others to be victims of misfortune and not themselves” (Weinstein, 1980). Weinstein termed such judgement errors of hopeful outlook as Unrealistic optimism. The paper suggests with substantial evidence that entrepreneurship settings tend to attract unrealistic optimism. The study was conducted through comparative analysis. In the analysis of consequences of unrealistic optimism, the research suggested that exaggerated beliefs of personal control and unrealistic optimism are said to be associated with higher motivation and greater persistence at tasks with more effective performances ultimately leading to success. It concluded that unrealistic optimism hence created distortions serving as a main source of efficiency loss in the economic