Lecture 7- Optimism Flashcards
Define optimism
Tiger (1975)
- having a generalised positve expectancy about the future.
- subjective
How does Carver & Sheier (2002) define optimism ?
A personality trait that can be thought of as the
generalised expectancy of good outcomes, even
in the face of adversity
Name the theories of optimism
1) Learned (Explanatory) Optimism
2) Dispositional Optimism
Which psychologist developed Learned optimism theory?
Seligman et al
What is the helplessness model?
after experiencing a bad event people become passive
What does Explanatory style mean?
how we explain the causes of
bad events
What are the characteristics of a pessimistic explanatory style?
learned helplessness
- Internal (personal)
- Stable (Permanent)
- Global (Pervasive)
What are the characteristics of an optimistic explanatory style?
- External (circumstantial)
- Unstable (temporary)
- Explicit (Specific)
How are Explanatory styles measured?
Attributional Style Questionnaire
- 12 hypothetical events
- 6 good, 3 achievement-related, and 3 affiliations related
- 6 bad
What are the key components of Seligman’s theory of optimism?
1) A= Adversity
2) B= Beliefs about adversity
3) C consequences those beliefs we have
How do your beliefs about adversity affect the consequences of those situations in your life?
How you think (B) about the bad things that happen in your
life (A) will influence the outcome (C)
What are the two strategies for learning optimism?
Distraction
Disputation
How does distraction help us learn optimism?
puts adversities aside to re-evaluate the situation with a fresh outlook
How do disputations help us to learn optimism?
challenges the beliefs you have about adversities
What psychologists developed the theory of dispositional optimism?
Carver & Scheier (1981)
What does the dispositional theory state about optimism?
- a pre-disposition towards expecting favourable outcomes
- influneced by genetics and personality factors
- Our expectations impact how we appraise, react to and cope with stressful situations
What is a dispositional Optimist?
- Expects favourable outcomes.
- Positive expectation inspires goal
perseverance. - Tendency towards a positive
mood state
What is a dispositional pessimist?
- Expects unfavourable outcomes.
- Negative expectation undermines goal perseverance.
- Tendency towards negative mood
state.
How do we measure dispositional Optimism?
Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT-R)
