Optimism

Optimism

  • Submitted By: TYLERR04
  • Date Submitted: 03/05/2009 9:39 PM
  • Category: Psychology
  • Words: 885
  • Page: 4
  • Views: 2

Rachel Macleod

University of Phoenix

Optimism and Health Paper

Optimism and Health Paper

Optimism effects physical and psychological health in varies ways. To start off, optimism is a set of hopefulness or confidence. Defined by Webster’s dictionary online, it means 1. The optimistic feeling that all is going to turn out well. 2. A general disposition to expect the best in all things.
It seems that personal optimism correlates strongly with self-esteem, with psychological well-being and with physical and mental health. Self-esteem plays a big role because self-esteem keeps the motivation and also as optimism does, set of confidence. According to Peterson (2000), optimism can be differentiated between “big” and “little” optimism.
Big optimism is biologically and culturally bound with socially acceptable norms (our country is on the verge of something great) and little optimism is described as idiosyncratic with specific and adaptive action (finding a convenient parking place). These are just a few examples but other definitions and descriptions are also offered.
People that have an optimistic view on life often hold a widespread, positive expectation for the future and often expect good things to happen to them. Therefore, optimists tend to believe that misfortune or stressful life events can be handled successfully and appropriately in a calm manner. They use more engaged coping strategies, such as problem solving or planning, to properly manage their lifestyles.
Research shows that individuals who measured high on optimism tended to show signs of more adaptive immune function and exhibited less extreme cardiovascular reactivity during the course of their daily lives than those who were not optimistic. They also tend to have a high overdrive with life, often satisfying their drive in fast career paths, such as sales or in a health care field.
Optimist’s life often consists of variety - through work,...

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