Discussion: Realistic versus UnrealisticOptimism
Purpose: To think about the limits of optimism and the need foran optimistic attitude to be grounded in reality.
*MINIMUM 250 WORDS*
Research shows that an optimistic attitude toward life, whetherdefined as a disposition or explanatory style, has a variety ofbenefits compared to pessimism. Optimists enjoy higher overallwell-being and use more effective coping skills in dealing withlife’s many challenges. Whether recovering from bypass heartsurgery, coping with breast cancer, or adjusting to college,optimists generally do better than pessimists. However, manyresearchers have suggested that optimism needs to be realistic tobe effective. John Henryism, compulsive gamblers, and smokers are afew examples of people who may suffer the ill-effects ofunrealistic optimism. Â
- What are examples of unrealistic optimism that you have seenin other people or yourself? What makes them unrealistic? What werethe effects? What needs or motivations seemed to lie behindwishful/unrealistic thinking? What things need to be considered injudging whether optimism is realistic or unrealistic?
