Pessimism: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "{{Header|Pessimism 04/25}} {{cat-psych|Pessimism}} Pessimism refers to a mindset where an unfavorable outcome is expected from a particular situation. Generally, pessimists concentrate on life's negatives. A typical way to assess pessimism is by asking, "Is the glass half empty or half full?" In this scenario, a pessimist tends to perceive the glass as half empty, or in severe cases, entirely empty, while an optimist views it as half full. Historically, the pessimistic o...") |
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== As a psychological disposition == | == As a psychological disposition == | ||
In the ancient world, psychological pessimism was linked to melancholy and was believed to result from an excess of black bile in the body. The study of pessimism parallels the study of depression. Psychologists trace pessimistic attitudes back to emotional pain or even biology. Aaron Beck argues that depression stems from unrealistic negative views about the world. Beck initiates treatment by engaging clients in conversation about their unhelpful thoughts. Pessimists, however, often present arguments suggesting their understanding of reality is justified, as seen in Depressive realism or (pessimistic realism). Deflection is a common method used by those who are depressed; they allow others to assume they are disclosing everything, which proves to be an effective way of concealing their true feelings. The pessimism item on the {{Wl|Beck Depression Inventory}} has been judged useful in predicting suicides. The Beck Hopelessness Scale has also been described as a measurement of pessimism. | In the ancient world, psychological pessimism was linked to [[melancholy]] and was believed to result from an excess of black bile in the body. The study of pessimism parallels the study of depression. Psychologists trace pessimistic attitudes back to emotional pain or even biology. Aaron Beck argues that depression stems from unrealistic negative views about the world. Beck initiates treatment by engaging clients in conversation about their unhelpful thoughts. Pessimists, however, often present arguments suggesting their understanding of reality is justified, as seen in Depressive realism or (pessimistic realism). Deflection is a common method used by those who are depressed; they allow others to assume they are disclosing everything, which proves to be an effective way of concealing their true feelings. The pessimism item on the {{Wl|Beck Depression Inventory}} has been judged useful in predicting suicides. The Beck Hopelessness Scale has also been described as a measurement of pessimism. | ||
Wender and Klein point out that pessimism can be useful in some circumstances: "If one is subject to a series of defeats, it pays to adopt a conservative game plan of sitting back and waiting and letting others take the risks. Such waiting would be fostered by a pessimistic outlook. Similarly if one is raking in the chips of life, it pays to adopt an expansive risk-taking approach, and thus maximize access to scarce resources." | Wender and Klein point out that pessimism can be useful in some circumstances: "If one is subject to a series of defeats, it pays to adopt a conservative game plan of sitting back and waiting and letting others take the risks. Such waiting would be fostered by a pessimistic outlook. Similarly if one is raking in the chips of life, it pays to adopt an expansive risk-taking approach, and thus maximize access to scarce resources." | ||
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The economist Nouriel Roubini (who refers to himself as Dr. Doom) was largely dismissed as a pessimist for his dire, albeit somewhat accurate, predictions of a forthcoming global financial crisis in 2006. However, financial journalist Justin Fox noted in the Harvard Business Review in 2010 that "In fact, Roubini didn't exactly predict the crisis that began in mid-2007... Roubini spent several years predicting a very different sort of crisis—one in which foreign central banks diversifying their holdings out of Treasuries sparked a run on the dollar—only to turn in late 2006 to warning of a U.S. housing bust and a global 'hard landing'. He still didn't give a perfectly clear or (in retrospect) accurate vision of how exactly this would play out... I'm more than a little weirded out by the status of prophet that he has been accorded since." Others noted that "The problem is that even though he was spectacularly right on this one, he went on to predict time and time again, as the markets and the economy recovered in the years following the collapse, that there would be a follow-up crisis and that more extreme crashes were inevitable. His calls, after his initial pronouncement, were consistently wrong. Indeed, if you had listened to him, and many investors did, you would have missed the longest bull market run in US market history." Another remarked, "For a prophet, he's wrong an awful lot of the time." Tony Robbins wrote: "Roubini warned of a recession in 2004 (wrongly), 2005 (wrongly), 2006 (wrongly), and 2007 (wrongly)... and he' predicted (wrongly) that there'd be a 'significant' stock market correction in 2013." Speaking about Roubini, economist Anirvan Banerji told The New York Times: "Even a stopped clock is right twice a day." Economist Nariman Behravesh said: "Nouriel Roubini has been singing the doom-and-gloom story for 10 years. Eventually, something was going to be right." | The economist Nouriel Roubini (who refers to himself as Dr. Doom) was largely dismissed as a pessimist for his dire, albeit somewhat accurate, predictions of a forthcoming global financial crisis in 2006. However, financial journalist Justin Fox noted in the Harvard Business Review in 2010 that "In fact, Roubini didn't exactly predict the crisis that began in mid-2007... Roubini spent several years predicting a very different sort of crisis—one in which foreign central banks diversifying their holdings out of Treasuries sparked a run on the dollar—only to turn in late 2006 to warning of a U.S. housing bust and a global 'hard landing'. He still didn't give a perfectly clear or (in retrospect) accurate vision of how exactly this would play out... I'm more than a little weirded out by the status of prophet that he has been accorded since." Others noted that "The problem is that even though he was spectacularly right on this one, he went on to predict time and time again, as the markets and the economy recovered in the years following the collapse, that there would be a follow-up crisis and that more extreme crashes were inevitable. His calls, after his initial pronouncement, were consistently wrong. Indeed, if you had listened to him, and many investors did, you would have missed the longest bull market run in US market history." Another remarked, "For a prophet, he's wrong an awful lot of the time." Tony Robbins wrote: "Roubini warned of a recession in 2004 (wrongly), 2005 (wrongly), 2006 (wrongly), and 2007 (wrongly)... and he' predicted (wrongly) that there'd be a 'significant' stock market correction in 2013." Speaking about Roubini, economist Anirvan Banerji told The New York Times: "Even a stopped clock is right twice a day." Economist Nariman Behravesh said: "Nouriel Roubini has been singing the doom-and-gloom story for 10 years. Eventually, something was going to be right." | ||
Personality Plus opines that pessimistic temperaments (e.g., melancholy and phlegmatic) can be useful inasmuch as pessimists' focus on the negative helps them spot problems that people with more optimistic temperaments (e.g., choleric and sanguine) miss. | Personality Plus opines that pessimistic temperaments (e.g., [[melancholy]] and phlegmatic) can be useful inasmuch as pessimists' focus on the negative helps them spot problems that people with more optimistic temperaments (e.g., choleric and sanguine) miss. | ||
{{sa|Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions}} | {{sa|Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions}} | ||
{{emotions}} | {{emotions}} | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
{{wr|for=<br>This Wikipedia article | {{wr|for=<br>This Wikipedia article is recommended reading.}} | ||
{{Footer}} | {{Footer}} | ||
{{cats|}} | {{cats|}} | ||
Latest revision as of 05:29, 21 April 2025
Pessimism refers to a mindset where an unfavorable outcome is expected from a particular situation. Generally, pessimists concentrate on life's negatives. A typical way to assess pessimism is by asking, "Is the glass half empty or half full?" In this scenario, a pessimist tends to perceive the glass as half empty, or in severe cases, entirely empty, while an optimist views it as half full. Historically, the pessimistic outlook has influenced all significant areas of thought.
Etymology
The term pessimism derives from the Latin word pessimus, meaning 'the worst'. It was first used by Jesuit critics of Voltaire's 1759 novel Candide, ou l'Optimisme. Voltaire was satirizing the philosophy of Leibniz, who maintained that this was the 'best (optimum) of all possible worlds'. In their attacks on Voltaire, the Jesuits of the Revue de Trévoux accused him of pessimisme.
As a psychological disposition
In the ancient world, psychological pessimism was linked to melancholy and was believed to result from an excess of black bile in the body. The study of pessimism parallels the study of depression. Psychologists trace pessimistic attitudes back to emotional pain or even biology. Aaron Beck argues that depression stems from unrealistic negative views about the world. Beck initiates treatment by engaging clients in conversation about their unhelpful thoughts. Pessimists, however, often present arguments suggesting their understanding of reality is justified, as seen in Depressive realism or (pessimistic realism). Deflection is a common method used by those who are depressed; they allow others to assume they are disclosing everything, which proves to be an effective way of concealing their true feelings. The pessimism item on the Beck Depression Inventory ↗ has been judged useful in predicting suicides. The Beck Hopelessness Scale has also been described as a measurement of pessimism.
Wender and Klein point out that pessimism can be useful in some circumstances: "If one is subject to a series of defeats, it pays to adopt a conservative game plan of sitting back and waiting and letting others take the risks. Such waiting would be fostered by a pessimistic outlook. Similarly if one is raking in the chips of life, it pays to adopt an expansive risk-taking approach, and thus maximize access to scarce resources."
The leading causes of pessimism are genetics, past experiences, and social and environmental factors. One study of 5,187 teenage twins and their siblings suggests that genetics may account for one-third of the variance in whether someone leans toward pessimism versus optimism, with the remaining variance attributed to their environment. Twin studies suggest that, concerning personality, about half of the differences between us result from genetic factors. However, Spector points out that throughout our lives, in response to environmental influences, our genes are constantly being dialed up and down like a dimmer switch, a process known as epigenetics.
Criticism
Pragmatic criticism
Throughout history, some have concluded that a pessimistic attitude, although justified, must be avoided to endure. Optimistic attitudes are favored and considered emotionally beneficial. Al-Ghazali and William James rejected their pessimism after suffering from psychological, or even psychosomatic, illness. Criticisms of this sort, however, assume that pessimism inevitably leads to a mood of darkness and utter depression. Many philosophers would disagree, claiming that the term "pessimism" is being abused. The link between pessimism and nihilism exists, but the former does not necessarily lead to the latter, as philosophers such as Albert Camus believed. Happiness is not inextricably linked to optimism, nor is pessimism inextricably linked to unhappiness. One could easily imagine an unhappy optimist and a happy pessimist. Accusations of pessimism may be used to silence legitimate criticism.
The economist Nouriel Roubini (who refers to himself as Dr. Doom) was largely dismissed as a pessimist for his dire, albeit somewhat accurate, predictions of a forthcoming global financial crisis in 2006. However, financial journalist Justin Fox noted in the Harvard Business Review in 2010 that "In fact, Roubini didn't exactly predict the crisis that began in mid-2007... Roubini spent several years predicting a very different sort of crisis—one in which foreign central banks diversifying their holdings out of Treasuries sparked a run on the dollar—only to turn in late 2006 to warning of a U.S. housing bust and a global 'hard landing'. He still didn't give a perfectly clear or (in retrospect) accurate vision of how exactly this would play out... I'm more than a little weirded out by the status of prophet that he has been accorded since." Others noted that "The problem is that even though he was spectacularly right on this one, he went on to predict time and time again, as the markets and the economy recovered in the years following the collapse, that there would be a follow-up crisis and that more extreme crashes were inevitable. His calls, after his initial pronouncement, were consistently wrong. Indeed, if you had listened to him, and many investors did, you would have missed the longest bull market run in US market history." Another remarked, "For a prophet, he's wrong an awful lot of the time." Tony Robbins wrote: "Roubini warned of a recession in 2004 (wrongly), 2005 (wrongly), 2006 (wrongly), and 2007 (wrongly)... and he' predicted (wrongly) that there'd be a 'significant' stock market correction in 2013." Speaking about Roubini, economist Anirvan Banerji told The New York Times: "Even a stopped clock is right twice a day." Economist Nariman Behravesh said: "Nouriel Roubini has been singing the doom-and-gloom story for 10 years. Eventually, something was going to be right."
Personality Plus opines that pessimistic temperaments (e.g., melancholy and phlegmatic) can be useful inasmuch as pessimists' focus on the negative helps them spot problems that people with more optimistic temperaments (e.g., choleric and sanguine) miss.
See also [ Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions ]
External links
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Pessimism ]
This Wikipedia article is recommended reading.
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Pessimism ]
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