social context and identities

Question 1

Benefits of optimists

Answer 1

High positive affect and wellbeing
Are more resilient to negative events
Better health
Recover faster from surgery

Question 2

Case analysis of imagining a positive future

Answer 2

Increases expectancies for a positive future

Question 3

Forgiveness therapy

Answer 3

Has implications for the long-term recovery of post-relationship emotionally abused women

Question 4

Men and batterer’s program

Answer 4

5% less likely to re-assualt

Question 5

Critique of psychological intervention with abuse

Answer 5

Need to eliminate helplessness which highlights the importance of economic alternatives.
Sometimes material reality inhibits the success of purely psychological interventions

Question 6

Further critique

Answer 6

Attributions that lead to optimism are considered internal, stable, and global
However, internal attribution decreases support for social-change. I.e. optimism may shift attributional focus to individual responsibility and away from social change

Question 7

Intergroup inequalities

Answer 7

Between groups there is mobility, but this leads to individual mobility where people seek to exit low SES to get to high SES. This is bad because it implies that you are in a low SES because of your own design

Question 7

What does positive psychology typically consider

Answer 7

Personal self representations
Although self may be in social relationships, self is still seen as different from all others

Question 8

In-group favouritism

Answer 8

Lower statues groups more likely to admit their lower statues on status-relevant dimensions, but creatively display in-group favouritism on status-irrevelant dimensions

Question 9

What is required for social change

Answer 9

Social identity, a recognition of injustice (illegitimacy of class), and a feeling of efficacy

Question 10

Negatives of thinking optimistically

Answer 10

Leads you to remain in a bad situation, then positive thinking is inhibiting (and potentially prohibiting) positive change

Question 11

Individual mobility requirements

Answer 11

Boundary permeability, assumption of legitimacy of circumstances

Question 12

Social change requirements

Answer 12

engage social identity, requires recognition that individual mobility is impossible, and conditions of circumstances are completely illegitimate