ipl-logo

How Does Optimism Affect An Individual's Life

1296 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Whaj is the differance between optimism and pessimism

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 …show more content…

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 …show more content…

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

Show More
Related
833 Words | 4 Pages

Humans living outside of the story find hope to be an equally compelling force. Through his analysis of college students, psychologist John Maltby found that the students having more hope also had greater academic success. He and his colleagues found “that hope was even better at predicting academic achievement than intelligence, personality, or previous academic achievement” (Weir). Another scientist, Shane Lopez, found that hope directly impacted productivity. Their research found “that hope accounts for 14 percent of productivity in the workplace” (Weir).

Read More
929 Words | 4 Pages

Life is a State of Mind “In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart,” observed Anne Frank, a nationwide and posthumous author of the Holocaust. Anne Frank suffered many hardships during her lifetime for a 15-year old female: going into hiding for 25 months, living in a concentration camp for a year, and dying of typhus fever. Anne Frank wrote “Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl”, where she describes her experience hiding from the Nazis.

Read More
85 Words | 1 Pages

A) In the article “The Benefits of Optimism are Real “ by Emely Esfahani Smith shows examples on how optimism haves made people surpass hard times. B) She supports this argument by giving examples on how optimism haves helped people in hard situations in life. C)This articles argument is written in a positive tone to show how people how being optimism is good.

Read More
354 Words | 2 Pages

Starting as a public radio reporter from four different continents and which happen to be broadcast in today most popular radio programs in the United States. Algeo also wrote “The President Is a Sick Man” and most recently “Abe & Fido”. One morning Truman and his wife Bess went on a road trip by themselves without no secret service protection or any off the presidents needs just like a regular couple in a Chrysler New Yorker. Retracing the Turman’s route with several detours he explains the geography, politics, old place he use to eat at, sleep and the people he meet on his journey. The book was written in chronological order from the journey from Missouri to Washington then New York and went back to Independence, Missouri right after Eisenhower

Read More
545 Words | 3 Pages

I have lived in East Oakland my whole life. To the majority of people, the mention of East Oakland evokes thoughts of violence, shootings, and gangs. I was one of the people who believed in these stereotypes, and for a particularly long time. I was one of the people who saw Oakland as a wasteland, a place with nothing to offer me, and a place I had nothing to offer to.

Read More
561 Words | 3 Pages

In order to be content and successful one must believe happiness is a feasible option, as one is often the product of their beliefs. Jenny exemplifies unwavering optimism at a young age in “Circus Town”; Chris Gardner in turn displays exceptional optimistic perseverance while persisting through his documented life’s trials. Jenny and Gardner are figures who seek opportunity in every difficulty. Their achieved success is attributable to their positive views, and due to this optimistic outlook the two are able to overcome their trials. Both have notable optimistic perceptions - realistic or otherwise.

Read More
86 Words | 1 Pages

Knowing how the world and Americans view themselves, it is important to consider how we will fit into America’s future. Personally, my optimism for the future coincides with how most Americans were in 2013. With the recent terroristic horrors going on and the 2016 election, I am probably more pessimistic than what the public was like three years ago. There have been very few positives that has been happening in the current state of our world and all the negativity spreading around makes everything seem bleak.

Read More
782 Words | 4 Pages

I believe that pursuing happiness as a goal has detrimental effects. As a society, we tend to believe that we need to be full of joy at all times, but that isn't realistic - life happens. By attempting to be cheery all the time, you will never be genuinely content. You will always be searching for more and won't be satisfied with what you have, creating a permanent cycle of gloom rather than bliss.

Read More
343 Words | 2 Pages

According to Benjamin Franklin, nothing is certain but death and taxes, neither of which sound appealing. What optimism does certainty give then? Certainty correlates with inflexibility and stubbornness. Being certain is almost always naïve, because without doubt, the world would be black and white, yes or no. We need doubt to check results and to confirm integrity.

Read More
1529 Words | 7 Pages

Arthur Schopenhauer was a 19th century German philosopher whose ideology is a prime example of philosophical pessimism. Schopenhauer was strongly influenced by Plato and Immanuel Kant, as well as by Eastern religions like Buddhism, yet he rejected the prevalent at the time post-Kantian philosophies of German idealism and optimism. He believed that humans live in a world dominated by a malignant metaphysical “will to live” which causes our lives to consist only of suffering in the form of pain and boredom. In order to at least somewhat alleviate this endless strife of life, Schopenhauer proposed the adoption of an ascetic mindset. “Studies in Pessimism” is a selection of essays from Schopenhauer’s Parerga (Greek for “Appendices”), the first

Read More
1070 Words | 5 Pages

The example of the two individuals presented in the previous section highlights the importance of personal fulfillment and happiness in defining success. The first person, despite achieving great financial success, feels unfulfilled and empty, whereas the second person, with a modest income, has found happiness and fulfillment in their life. This example illustrates that external achievements alone cannot guarantee happiness and

Read More
1148 Words | 5 Pages

The final lesson is created positive emotions and moods are extremely crucial to improve the general performance. Thus, this essay will go deep into 03 specific knowledge and what they help me to enhance my personal development. The first point I have to mention here is the

Read More
1500 Words | 6 Pages

When I think positively, I can achieve greater things, however, having a negative mind-set would handicap me in many ways, obstructing me from achieving my goals. By internalizing this presupposition, I have learnt to always think positively and believe that I can accomplish my goals in

Read More
802 Words | 4 Pages

Optimism is hopefulness for the future, and, like me, most people get their optimism from their roots, or how they were brought up as a child. My parents would always remind me from a young age that being pessimistic will not help you achieve your goal, so you might as well be optimistic and try. They have always taught me from a young age, and never denied or doubted, that with optimism comes opportunity, and that optimism is, in fact, the key to success. Over the years, I’ve learned that the more optimistic you are, the more creative you can be. With optimistic attitude, one can generate new ideas and create possibilities to move forward faster and more efficiently than at normal times, due to an open mind.

Read More
870 Words | 4 Pages

Entrepreneurship in the Philippines is currently booming and one of the best things a person can do today is start taking action in putting up its own business or acquiring a franchise (Louren, 2017). Entrepreneurship is a state of mind. It is not identified or measured with the type of business a person is in the success of that business but rather it is the total way of life for entrepreneurs. Being an entrepreneur requires distinct personality traits such as having a risk-taking personality, need for achievement, internal focus of control, tolerance for ambiguity and having a type A behavior or striving to achieve more in less time and general competitiveness (Gilles and Mondejar, 2008). Entrepreneurship has been described as the “capacity and willingness to develop, organize and manage a business venture along with any of its risks in order to make a profit” (www.businessdictionary.com).

Read More

More about How Does Optimism Affect An Individual's Life

Related Topics

Open Document