Optimism Flashcards
Who came up with learned optimism?
Seligman
What is learned optimism?
Developed from learned helplessness model (Abramson et al, 1978)
Rooted in learning theory - how explanatory styles shape our reaction to events
Helplessness arises when people encounter situations they can’t control. Overtime they learn to expect events to remain uncontrollable
What are the 3 factors for failure attribution in learned helplessness?
Internal factors
Stable factors
Global factors
How can we explain how negative events influence our emotional responses & behaviours?
Pessimistic explanations - attributing problems to internal, stable & global causes leads to pessimism
Optimistic explanation - attributing problems to external, temporary & specific causes fostering resilience & problem-solving
What changes our response to negative events?
Our explanatory style (Seligman, 1991)
What is the difference between optimism & pessimism?
Optimistic thinking - empowers us to overcome challenges
Pessimistic thinking - passivity & helplessness
What is at the heart of pessimism according to Seligman?
Learned helplessness - mindset where individual feels powerless to influence events/ change their circumstances
Comes more naturally due to effort to maintain positivity during setbacks
What did Seligman attribute to optimism to oppose setbacks?
Resilience
View setbacks as temporary, specific & external
What is learned optimism & the ABC model?
Optimism isn’t inherent but can be learned by understanding & reframing thoughts using the ABC model
What is the ABC model?
Adversity - challenges we encounter
Belief - how er interpret adversity
Consequence - emotional & behavioural outcomes resulting from beliefs - positive = resilience, negative = discouragement
What is dispositional optimism?
Optimism is considered a stable, dispositional trait that influences individuals actions based on their goals & motivations
Assessed to extend individuals pursue goals & remain focused on bridging gap between current situations & their desired outcomes
What are the differences between dispositional optimists & dispositional pessimists?
Dispositional optimists - persist in striving towards goals despite setbacks, maintain favourable expectations for future outcomes
Dispositional pessimists - anticipate negative outcomes & more likely to abandon goals when faced with challenges
What is the difference between dispositional & learned optimists?
Learned in less using a positive explanatory style to interpret future events - attribute events to favourable causes
Dispositional optimism expect positive outcomes without explanations & optimism stems form innate expectation rather than reasoning
What is hope theory?
1994 theory proposed by Snyder to integrate optimism with goal achievement
Hope is defined as individuals belief in their ability to achieve goals, combining motivation & planning
Theory grounded in social cognitive psych
What are the 3 interrelated components of hope theory?
Goals - anchor of hope - desired outcome providing structure & direction
Agency - motivation & determination to pursue goals
Pathways - individuals ability to identify multiple strategies/ routes to achieve their goals. Induces adaptability in generation alternative pathways
What are the dynamics of hope?
Hope bridges the gap between certainty & uncertainty
Goals as mental targets with perceived probability of success
If success was guaranteed, hope would be unnecessary
What are the differences between low and high hope?
Low - tend to focus on vague, singular goals, lacking clear pathways & agency leading to reduced motivation
High - set multiple, clear goals to diversify focus & reduce reliance on singular goals. Better equipped to adjust their plan
How do pathways act as a novel contribution to hope theory?
Unique to hope theory, distinguishing it from traditional optimism
Highlights hope isn’t just about wanting success, it emphasises active planning & strategy building
Action-orientated approach
