Defensive Pessimism - Psychosocial Domain
| |
Defensive pessimism is a strategy used by anxious people to help them manage their anxiety so they can work productively. Defensive pessimists lower their expectations to help prepare themselves for the worst. Then, they mentally play through all the bad things that might happen. Though it sounds as if it might be depressing, defensive pessimism actually helps anxious people focus away from their emotions so that they can plan and act effectively.
Strategic optimism is typically used by people who aren't anxious. Individuals using this strategy set high expectations, and then actively avoid thinking much about what might happen.
Both strategic optimists and defensive pessimists typically do quite well, but both groups are also vulnerable to situations that don't accommodate their strategies. My experimental research shows that if defensive pessimists try to raise their expectations, or avoid playing through a worst-case analysis, their anxiety increases and their performance suffers. If strategic optimists set lower expectations or play through possible outcomes, their anxiety increases and their performance decreases.
People may use different strategies in different situations, and not everyone is either a defensive pessimist or a strategic optimist.
| |
Jane accessed
http://academics.wellesley.edu/Psychology/Norem/Quiz/quiz.html to help her to evaluate her defensive pessimism. Her test result was 70, she qualified as a defensive pessimist .
Jane will probably avoid some of the pitfalls of life.
Are you a defensive Pessimist? Take this quiz to find out! (n.d.). Retrieved January 25, 2015, from site http://academics.wellesley.edu/Psychology/Norem/Quiz/quiz.html
|
