Learned Optimism

Half Empty, Half Full

Three modern forces have converged to cause an epidemic of depression, particularly in rich, free, prosperous America: 1) the greater emphasis on the individual; 2) the erosion of shared social experiences; and 3) the priority on developing high self-esteem. This societal priority emerged even though self-esteem is a product of success, not a cause. Research suggests that unwarranted high self-regard can lead to violent and criminal behavior. Instead of pushing for self-esteem, parents and educators should be teaching optimism.

The way that the little voice in your head explains your circumstances to you is your "explanatory style." It could be keeping you in a pessimistic funk and generating a belief in your own helplessness. Developing a more optimistic explanatory style can lead you out of that rut. Pessimists see setbacks as perpetual, pervasive and personal. But optimists bounce back from setbacks because they don’t take them as personally. Optimists expect problems to be just temporary. Pessimism derives from a deep-seated sense of helplessness. The pessimistic belief that "nothing I do matters" can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.