Exploring Optimism In this paper hopefulness and optimism will be compared and contrasted and a review under what circumstances might optimism is harmful. Then the paper will explore defensive pessimism and under what circumstances might this be beneficial. So how is hopefulness and optimism related? Both terms are positive. Both terms are wonderful motivators. Hope is a dream and optimism makes the dream come true. Hopefulness is the emotion or feeling that keeps a person going and striving for, whatever it is that an individual wants (Peterson, 2000).
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Optimism is hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something (“Dictionary. com”, 1995). Some researchers feel that optimism differs from hopefulness in that optimism has a proactive component called planning. When contrasting hopefulness and optimism, optimism is usually based on logical concrete facts, for example statements like “I hope that the economy will improve” and “I am optimistic that the economy will improve”. The first statement can be made with no basis of fact or evidence to support it. We can be hopeful for anything at any time.
The second statement however, communicates more confidence, optimism is usually based on evidence that can be judged or evaluated in terms of rational criteria (Snyder, 2000). Hopefulness and optimism are dissimilar in that hopefulness is situation specific and subject to change upon one’s own abilities. Optimism is an altogether elucidatory term that positive things will occur free of one’s capacity to do something. Optimism may be harmful when an individual only focuses on the “bright side” of life ignoring negatives or “realities” one can be taken off guard by unhappy moments in life.
Simply being unprepared or unable to cope effectively with these negative events causes stress to one’s mental health. These negative events can make a person resentful and may cause the individual to isolate themselves from others. People who always look on the “bright side” ignore real problems and issues and can lead the individual to overlook or stifle pain, grief, anger, or fear (Lazarus, 2011). By doing this the person is causing themselves more undue stress, instead of preparing for what may happen or the negative outcome of a situation, which leads us to the term defensive pessimism.
Defensive pessimism is where an individual will lower their expectations in order to avert a catastrophe (McFedries, 2012). As defined in wordspy. com, defensive pessimism is a strategy that an individual uses to anticipate a negative outcome and then they will take measures to avoid the situation. Defensive pessimism may be helpful to an individual because they will look at all of the possible outcomes of a situation. Mentally preparing themselves for the worst of the worst of situations then taking action against the negative possibilities (Rachel, 2010).
Individuals may even feel more in control over these negative events because they have prepared themselves for it. Seligman states that “cheerfulness may sometimes keep us from seeing reality with the necessary clarity”. Hopefulness and optimism two different but complimentary states are needed in our lives, to believe that there is good and well-being. However, always looking on the “bright side” is just as damaging as always seeing “the glass half empty”. If an individual has hopefulness and optimism in their heart but protects themselves with a little defensive pessimism the balance will usually give one good mental health. ?
