Research Information System
PSYCHOLOGY OF OPTIMISM, pp.103-122, 2011 (SSCI)
This chapter attempts to review and scrutinize the optimism concept and share these issues and evaluations with the readers. Although this chapter focuses on optimism mainly, it sometimes also refers to pessimism. Although the optimism phenomenon has a positive connotation, this construct has the potential to take different forms. Therefore, the changing characteristics of optimism according to time, situations, conditions and culture is emphasized. The benefits and deficits of optimism are discussed in terms of dispositional optimism, comparative optimism, unrealistic optimism, defensive pessimism and unrealistic pessimism by reviewing the studies about psychological wellbeing, physical well-being, academic life and life difficulties. Especially, the importance and vitality of carrying out studies sensitive to cultural differences is emphasized.