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Seeing the glass half full: A review of the causes and consequences of optimismVoir le verre à moitié plein : les causes et conséquences de l’optimisme

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prps.2012.02.002Get rights and content

Abstract

During the past few decades, the psychological trait of optimism has garnered an increasing amount of interest from scientists, and numerous studies have now shown that optimism is associated with important benefits. The present review summarizes the main findings from this body of research. We begin by describing the two main ways in which researchers have defined and operationalized optimism, as “optimistic explanatory style” and as “dispositional optimism”. Second, we provide an overview of the various studies documenting the benefits of optimism. Optimism indeed appears to be associated with higher levels of subjective well-being, better health, and more success. In addition, we describe some of the ongoing controversies in this area of research. Third, we summarize what researchers currently know about the causes of optimism, and how optimism can be fostered in adults as well as in youth. Finally, the present review highlights the adaptive nature of optimism, while recognizing that being optimistic under all circumstances may not always be best. Cultivating flexible and realistic optimism may therefore be most advantageous. We conclude by pointing out important areas of research for the future. These include continuing the search for the biological and brain substrates of optimism, and investigating the psychological and physiological benefits of adopting a flexible (as opposed to rigid) optimistic outlook on life.

Résumé

Le trait psychologique de l’optimisme a suscité un intérêt croissant auprès des chercheurs durant les dernières décennies. De nombreuses études ont montré que l’optimisme est associé à une grande variété de bénéfices. Cet article propose une revue des principaux résultats de cette littérature. Nous commençons par décrire les deux approches qui ont été utilisées afin de définir et opérationnaliser le construit de l’optimisme en tant que style explicatif ou en tant qu’optimisme dispositionnel. Puis, nous donnons un aperçu des différentes études documentant les conséquences de l’optimisme. Ces études suggèrent qu’être optimiste est associé au bonheur subjectif, à la santé, et au succès. En outre, nous décrivons certaines des controverses actuelles dans ce domaine de recherche. Nous résumons ensuite les connaissances scientifiques concernant les causes de l’optimisme, et comment il peut être favorisé chez les adultes ainsi que chez les jeunes. Enfin, cet article met en évidence le caractère adaptatif de l’optimisme, tout en soulignant les limites de l’optimisme en toutes circonstances, et la possibilité de cultiver un optimisme souple et réaliste. Nous concluons en soulignant quelques pistes de recherche importantes pour l’avenir comme l’étude des substrats biologiques et neurologiques de l’optimisme, et l’examen des bénéfices psychologiques et physiologiques de l’adoption d’un optimisme flexible plutôt que rigide.

Section snippets

Part 1: what is optimism?

The anthropologist Lionel Tiger (1979, p. 18) defined optimism as “a mood or attitude associated with an expectation about the social or material future – one which the evaluator regards as socially desirable, to his [or her] advantage, or for his [or her] pleasure”. Optimism is therefore regarded as a cognitive, affective and motivational construct (Peterson, 2000). In other words, optimists think, but also feel positively about the future. Optimism as an individual psychological difference

Part 2: the benefits of optimism

Research on both optimistic explanatory style and dispositional optimism has shown that being optimistic is associated with a wide array of beneficial consequences. As an exhaustive summary of these findings is beyond the scope of this review, we only highlight here some of the most interesting findings that have shed light on ways in which optimism may constitute one facet of “optimal living” (Carver et al., 2010, p. 880).

Genetic and environmental influences

Why are some people natural optimists while others cannot help but seeing the glass as half empty? Researchers have identified many different factors affecting the development of optimism, although more research is needed to shed light on this topic (Gillham and Reivich, 2004). First, twin and adoption studies have shown that, in addition to environmental influences, genetic influences may affect the development of optimism (Mosing et al., 2009, Plomin et al., 1992, Schulman et al., 1993, Yuh

Conclusion: the case for flexible optimism

Research on optimism conducted over the past few decades has made significant contributions to the scientific understanding of psychological resilience and well-being. Additional research is needed to better understand the mechanisms explaining how optimism exerts its effects on outcomes such as subjective well-being, health, or success, among others. For example, it has been proposed that optimism may affect health by way of social relationships (Geers et al., 1998). In addition, future work

Disclosure of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest concerning this article.

Acknowledgements

Funding for this project was generously provided by Eva Kedar, Ph.D.

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