what are some of the benefits of learned optimism

Research suggests that learned optimism can improve your health through:

• Improved physical health: Optimistic people may approach health problems more proactively than pessimistic people,...
• Better mental health: Studies show that optimists tend to report better mental well-being than pessimists. Learned...
• Higher motivation: By practicing optimism, you can stay more...

Full Answer

Why optimism is better than pessimism?

Whether you’re an optimist or pessimist, the short answer is that there is inconclusive research about which trumps the other. Some studies have shown that optimism leads to greater longevity, while other studies have said the exact opposite — that pessimism preserves your health.

How does optimism affect your health and longevity?

Start with these tips:

• Think positive thoughts about yourself and others.
• Consider limiting your online use of social media sites if you tend to compare yourself with others who post on those sites.
• Stop comparing yourself with others in a competitive way. ...
• Try to find the good in every situation, even at difficult moments.

More items...

Why is optimism better than pessimism?

The evidence strongly supports the notion that optimism is a strong predictor for positive outcomes even when controlling for mood, affect, and other personality dimensions. More studies show positive outcomes than not, and no studies to date have shown pessimism as a predictor for healthy outcomes related to physical health.

Can optimism make a difference in Your Life?

If so, your good attitude may have even more benefits than you think. A growing number of scientific studies suggest optimistic people tend to live longer and have better physical and mental health than pessimistic people. The idea of optimism leading to better health has been studied.

What are 5 benefits of optimism?

The 5 Benefits of Being OptimisticSee failure as a new start. Failure is not the end, in fact it is often the beginning of something great. ... Be expansive. Pessimism makes us contract and shy away from new or adventurous things. ... Get healthy. Dwelling on negativity isn't healthy. ... Spread good vibes. ... It is the best choice.

How do you achieve learned optimism?

Learned Optimism: Martin Seligman's Book SummaryBeing grateful for your blessings.Helping others in greater need than yourself.Challenging the utility of your negative thoughts and beliefs.Tackling negative self-talk head-on.

What is an example of Learned Optimism?

Learned optimism involves developing the ability to view the world from a positive point of view. It is often contrasted with learned helplessness. By challenging negative self-talk and replacing pessimistic thoughts with more positive ones, people can learn how to become more optimistic.

Does Learned Optimism work?

Practicing positivity can have a variety of benefits for your well-being. Research suggests that learned optimism can improve your health through: Improved physical health: Optimistic people may approach health problems more proactively than pessimistic people, giving them better health outcomes.

What did Seligman believe?

Seligman believes that anyone can learn how to become more optimistic. He developed a learned optimism test designed to help people discover how optimistic they are. People who start out more optimistic can further improve their own emotional health, while those who are more pessimistic can benefit by lowering their chances of experiencing symptoms of depression.

What are the benefits of optimism?

There are a number of benefits to becoming a more optimistic person. Some of the many advantages of optimism that researchers have discovered include: 1 Better health outcomes: A meta-analysis of 83 studies found that optimism played a significant role in health outcomes for cardiovascular disease, cancer, pain, physical symptoms, and mortality. 1 2 Better mental health: Optimists report higher levels of well-being than pessimists. Research also suggests that teaching learned optimism techniques can significantly reduce depression. 3 Higher motivation: Becoming more optimistic can also help you maintain motivation when pursuing goals. When trying to lose weight, for example, pessimists might give up because they believe diets never work. Optimists, on the other hand, are more likely to focus on positive changes they can make that will help them reach their goals. 4 Longer lifespan: Studies have shown that optimistic people tend to live longer than pessimists. 2 5 Lower stress levels: Optimists not only experience less stress, but they also cope with it better. They tend to be more resilient and recover from setbacks more quickly Rather than becoming overwhelmed and discouraged by negative events, they focus on making positive changes that will improve their lives. 3

Why did the optimistic test come about?

He developed a learned optimism test designed to help people discover how optimistic they are. People who start out more optimistic can further improve their own emotional health, while those who are more pessimistic can benefit by lowering their chances of experiencing symptoms of depression.

How can optimism help with depression?

Research also suggests that teaching learned optimism techniques can significantly reduce depression . Higher motivation: Becoming more optimistic can also help you maintain motivation when pursuing goals. When trying to lose weight, for example, pessimists might give up because they believe diets never work.

Why is optimism important?

Some of the many advantages of optimism that researchers have discovered include: Better health outcomes: A meta-analysis of 83 studies found that optimism played a significant role in health outcomes for cardiovascular disease, cancer, pain, physical symptoms, and mortality. 1.

What is learned optimism?

Learned optimism involves developing the ability to view the world from a positive point of view. It is often contrasted with learned helplessness. By challenging negative self-talk and replacing pessimistic thoughts with more positive ones, people can learn how to become more optimistic.

What was Seligman's main goal in his book?

As a result of this paradigm shift, Seligman wrote a book focused on the psychology of learned optimism. His work helped inspire the rise of positive psychology. Seligman went on to become the president of the American Psychological Association, elected by the largest vote in the APA's history.

What is learned optimism?

Learned optimism is the process of recognizing and challenging pessimistic thoughts in order to develop more positive behaviors. This concept in psychology aims to help people find new ways to manage tough situations and improve their overall well-being. The term “learned optimism” comes from positive psychology, ...

Why are optimists better than pessimists?

Improved physical health: Optimistic people may approach health problems more proactively than pessimistic people, giving them better health outcomes. Better mental health: Studies show that optimists tend to report better mental well-being than pessimists. Learned optimism practices may also help you reduce the symptoms of depression.

Where does the term "learned optimism" come from?

The term “learned optimism” comes from positive psychology, a branch of psychology founded by Dr. Martin Seligman. Dr. Seligman uses the phrase “learned optimism” to contrast “learned helplessness,” a thought pattern where someone feels unable to change negative circumstances. Under learned helplessness, you can’t change the situation and give up.

Can you change your situation under learned helplessness?

Under learned helplessness, you can’t change the situation and give up. Under learned optimism, while you may not always be able to change your situation, you can change how you respond to it. People in any situation can benefit from practicing learned optimism.

What is learned optimism?

Learned optimism is a process by which you learn to recognize habitually negative thoughts, and then challenge them. Challenging your pessimistic ideas helps you reframe them into new, more positive beliefs.

Where does the theory of learned optimism come from?

Early on in his career, Seligman researched the concept of learned helplessness using dogs.

5 benefits of learned optimism

Increasing your optimism levels can help you make positive changes and increase your levels of happiness. Below are five of the main benefits you can expect to see when you develop an optimistic mindset.

Can optimism be learned?

You may think you’re either born naturally optimistic or naturally pessimistic, and that is partly true. Genetic predisposition does play a role: if your parents are optimistic, then it’s more likely you will be, too.

Learned optimism vs. learned helplessness

Seligman first defined learned optimism as the opposite of learned helplessness. Both are explanatory styles, meaning they describe how people explain the events in their lives.

The learned optimism test

Chapter three of Seligman’s book on learned optimism contains a learned optimism test. This is a set of 48 questions, each with two possible answers.

A contrary opinion: criticism on learned optimism

By now, you understand the benefits of optimism. But like anything, too much of it can be a bad thing.

Why is optimism important?

Being optimistic can have its benefits to both your mental health as well as physical health. Having an optimistic outlook in life can help you lower stress, improve immunity, and build resilience. Optimism teaches you to look at hardships as opportunities and once you look at your problems as learning tools, you find yourself less stressed ...

How can optimism help with depression?

3. Better Emotional Health. In some researches, it was found that cognitive therapy or therapy that includes reframing a person’s thought process, optimism can be beneficial in treating depression. Depression often accompanies negative and pessimistic thinking.

Why is it important to stay optimistic?

Optimistic people are hopeful and that hope helps them move forward with their goals and stay committed to them. Hope and optimism go hand in hand, if you lose hope you lose the ability to stay optimistic and vice versa. To maintain a professional and personal life, it is incredibly important to stay positive.

What is the meaning of optimism?

What Is Optimism? Optimism is a mental state which can be identified as hope, confidence, and positivity in your future. Optimists are people who expect good things to happen and who always look at the bright side of things, unlike pessimistic people who always look for unhappy outcomes in their future.

How does optimism help you?

Optimism can help you get up and fight to reach your goals, regardless of your obstacles and challenges. When faced with a setback, optimistic people will look at the ways the situation can change in their favour. “Optimism and hope relate to how we think and feel about the future.

Why is it important to have an optimistic mind?

Keeping an optimistic mind-set can help you boost happiness and confidence and it can help you stay resilient in the face of your challenges. The importance of optimism in your life should not be ignored. It is the one thing that can help you better your mental, emotional, and physical wellness.

How to maintain a professional and personal life?

To maintain a professional and personal life, it is incredibly important to stay positive. Be the person who looks at the glass half full. Appreciate the little things in your life and approach your problems with a smile and a take-charge attitude. Confidence and optimism are the best tools when it comes to changing your outlook on life .

What is Learned Optimism (LO)?

LO measures the degree to which people are pessimistic or optimistic about their experiences and what impact this has on them long-term. It is typically tested by presenting people with a series of scenarios and asking them to choose the option they are most likely to think.

Why it is important?

LO can be used to predict a child’s motivation, level of self-esteem and willingness to use their abilities in good or bad situations. This has a huge impact on their likelihood of under- or over-performing, as those with an optimistic view on situations often do better than expected and those with a pessimistic view do worse.

How does it affect our work?

Our programme partner Fairplay is using learned optimism as a key indicator to measure progress of the work we’re co-funding. If you would like to find out more about our partnership project ‘Helping 100 Children At-Risk in Payatas, The Philippines’, please check out our work.

Sources

Fairplay For All Foundation (2018) Helping 100 Children At-Risk: How Much does Regular Sport, Nutrition, and Social Groups Improve the Well-being of Children in Payatas? Unpublished.