They tend to have a negative outlook on things, and when things go badly, that only reconfirms their beliefs. Why pessimists might experience this distress is perhaps a bit obvious. Moreover, the respondents with the most pessimistic expectations experienced a 37% higher level of psychological distress than the realists for optimists, this figure was 12%. That figure was 14% for the most optimistic people. People with the most pessimistic expectations had a 22% reduction in their long-term well-being. The measurement they used was the subjects’ financial expectations versus their actual financial results, over a period of 18 years. The researchers found that people who misjudge the future, either too optimistically or too pessimistically, have a lower sense of well-being than realists. Are optimists happier? Cautiously optimistic vs. The respondents also answered questions about their general sense of well-being and life satisfaction, via survey tools such as the General Health Questionnaire. Likewise, it asks about their current financial situation, compared to one year ago. The survey asks, for example, whether respondents expect their financial situation a year from now to be better, worse, or about the same. This survey consists of a questionnaire covering topics such as a household’s economic activity, health, and finances. The researchers of the present study used a sample of 1,601 people who took part in the British Household Panel Survey from 1991 to 2009. Pessimism and optimism definitionĪ handy optimism definition is “the generalized perception that events in one’s life will turn out well.” Pessimism, on the other hand, can be seen as a fear of future events, often accompanied by anxiety, depression, and other stress-related conditions. In fact, “unrealistic optimism” is extremely common, with many studies suggesting that about 80% of people have a so-called “optimism bias.” But when things don’t work out as planned, that optimism can sour into disappointment. Like, for example, overestimating the likelihood of positive events, and underestimating the likelihood of negative ones. The basic idea is that optimism makes people better able to handle stressful situations.īut on the other hand, too much optimism can have negative effects. ![]() Past research has found that believing in a bright future does indeed correlate with many positive outcomes. Being cautiously optimistic generates the greatest sense of well-being.Are optimists happier? Cautiously optimistic vs.
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