(2019) addressed the role of explanatory styles in an 18-year longitudinal study assessing health expectations and health outcomes among elderly Canadians. While studies have often reported better outcomes from optimists versus pessimists (Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, 1994), more recent research has also addressed the role of a realistic mindset, in which expectations are based in reality versus fantasy or illusion.Īs a notable example, Chipperfield et al. Moreover, defensive pessimism may actually be beneficial in some situations.įigure 1: Relationship between explanatory style, event, and perception Importantly, however, an association between pessimism and negative outcomes is not always straightforward, as it is possible to feel simultaneously pessimistic and optimistic about a situation. In contrast, an optimistic disposition is associated with reduced depression and physical symptoms (Gillham et al., 2001).
Viewing undesirable events as due to stable, internal causes has a negative impact on self-esteem (Gillham et al., 2001). For example, a person with a negative bias is less likely to feel resilient when dealing with stressors because they will feel a lack of personal control. These relationships are presented in Figure 1 below.Įxplanatory style affects many aspects of life. Individuals who are pessimistic will often interpret negative events as internal, global, and stable whereas positive events are often viewed as external, specific, and unstable (Gillham, Shatte, Reivich, & Seligman, 2001). When a person views situations from a pessimistic mindset, this is considered a negative bias (Dember, Martin, Hummer, Howe, & Melton, 1989). Humans consistently search for meaning to explain life events. Pessimism is a type of explanatory style in which individuals “expect the disadvantageous outcome when facing events of unknown emotional impact” (Herwig et al., 2010, p. A Note on Changing Your Mindset: 12 Tips.The Pessimism Bias: Its Role in Anxiety & Depression.
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