Comments on: Optimists and Realists Seen In Better Light Than Pessimists http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/08/optimists-and-realists-seen-in-better.php Understand your mind with the science of psychology - Mon, 04 May 2009 10:30:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author) http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/08/optimists-and-realists-seen-in-better.php/comment-page-1#comment-20420 Jeremy (PsyBlog author) Sat, 01 Sep 2007 11:15:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/08/optimists-and-realists-seen-in-better-light-than-pessimists.php#comment-20420 Anon #1, yes it's interesting to consider what factors might increase optimism - perhaps in a future post?<br /><br />Anon #2, good point, but this isn't really the focus of the current article. Again, perhaps fuel for a future post here. Anon #1, yes it's interesting to consider what factors might increase optimism - perhaps in a future post?

Anon #2, good point, but this isn't really the focus of the current article. Again, perhaps fuel for a future post here.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/08/optimists-and-realists-seen-in-better.php/comment-page-1#comment-20417 Anonymous Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:59:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/08/optimists-and-realists-seen-in-better-light-than-pessimists.php#comment-20417 This is all about the perception from others. Why is there no mention of which is best for the individual?<br /><br />Granted, a person may do better if they are perceived in a better light, but does it do the individual any good to be optimistic about things such as: driving on an empty gas tank ("I'm sure we'll make it!"), or how a population will react to invasion ("...we will be greeted as liberators!" -- Cheney)? This is all about the perception from others. Why is there no mention of which is best for the individual?

Granted, a person may do better if they are perceived in a better light, but does it do the individual any good to be optimistic about things such as: driving on an empty gas tank ("I'm sure we'll make it!"), or how a population will react to invasion ("...we will be greeted as liberators!" -- Cheney)?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/08/optimists-and-realists-seen-in-better.php/comment-page-1#comment-20413 Anonymous Thu, 30 Aug 2007 10:32:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/08/optimists-and-realists-seen-in-better-light-than-pessimists.php#comment-20413 Why not choose to be optimistic? I agree it is a stretch to think one can control intuition or gut hunches (all that "mind over matter" stuff is a bunch of malarky), but it is also not unreasonable to think of optimism as desirable. Why not choose to be optimistic? I agree it is a stretch to think one can control intuition or gut hunches (all that "mind over matter" stuff is a bunch of malarky), but it is also not unreasonable to think of optimism as desirable.

]]> By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author) http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/08/optimists-and-realists-seen-in-better.php/comment-page-1#comment-20400 Jeremy (PsyBlog author) Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:32:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/08/optimists-and-realists-seen-in-better-light-than-pessimists.php#comment-20400 Taylor, I'm not implying that people 'choose' to be optimistic - apologies if that's the impression I'm giving. <br /><br />What factors might lead to a person being optimistic are not addressed by this study, nor by me here, although I agree it's an interesting question. Taylor, I'm not implying that people 'choose' to be optimistic - apologies if that's the impression I'm giving.

What factors might lead to a person being optimistic are not addressed by this study, nor by me here, although I agree it's an interesting question.

]]> By: letiantu http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/08/optimists-and-realists-seen-in-better.php/comment-page-1#comment-20384 letiantu Sat, 25 Aug 2007 09:21:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/08/optimists-and-realists-seen-in-better-light-than-pessimists.php#comment-20384 1.How we judge a person as a optimist, pessimist or realist ?<br />Were the kind of person concluded by thetest,or observation?<br /><br />2.Should a positive person behavior adequatly?I had ever seems a report about that the pessmists are tend to be more imaginative,and then more creative.Nonetheless,to be adequate is to be smoothing in the conservation,community,or other jobs.That we're easier to content with needs which be touted by Maslow ,than those strange people. 1.How we judge a person as a optimist, pessimist or realist ?
Were the kind of person concluded by thetest,or observation?

2.Should a positive person behavior adequatly?I had ever seems a report about that the pessmists are tend to be more imaginative,and then more creative.Nonetheless,to be adequate is to be smoothing in the conservation,community,or other jobs.That we're easier to content with needs which be touted by Maslow ,than those strange people.

]]> By: Taylor http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/08/optimists-and-realists-seen-in-better.php/comment-page-1#comment-20383 Taylor Fri, 24 Aug 2007 22:07:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/08/optimists-and-realists-seen-in-better-light-than-pessimists.php#comment-20383 What I find infuriating in these reports about these optimism vs pessimism studies is the implication that optimism and pessimism are simple choices. I doubt that the authors of the study believe this but it seems that the author of this post does. Look at this sentence from the post : <br /><br /><i><br />This is that optimists do not actually receive any greater levels of social support than pessimists - they just think they do. This in turn leads to more positive health-related outcomes. So, optimists might really be 'thinking themselves better'!<br /></i><br /><br />This implies that people somehow choose their thoughts. The real question in all of this research is 'Why do optimists have optimistic thoughts. What causes that? What accounts for the difference as compared to pessimists?'<br /><br />Without this clarification it seems as though pessimistic people are simply too stupid to think optimistic thoughts and that is why they can't derive the benefits of an optmiistic mindset. <br /><br />People have to start talking about explanations for these differences. What I find infuriating in these reports about these optimism vs pessimism studies is the implication that optimism and pessimism are simple choices. I doubt that the authors of the study believe this but it seems that the author of this post does. Look at this sentence from the post :


This is that optimists do not actually receive any greater levels of social support than pessimists - they just think they do. This in turn leads to more positive health-related outcomes. So, optimists might really be 'thinking themselves better'!

This implies that people somehow choose their thoughts. The real question in all of this research is 'Why do optimists have optimistic thoughts. What causes that? What accounts for the difference as compared to pessimists?'

Without this clarification it seems as though pessimistic people are simply too stupid to think optimistic thoughts and that is why they can't derive the benefits of an optmiistic mindset.

People have to start talking about explanations for these differences.

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