Explanatory Style & Putting It In Perspective ECE College Program Curriculum Module 3 Explanatory Style & Putting It In Perspective

Beliefs Involved in Resilient Thinking Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum Beliefs Involved in Resilient Thinking Optimism vs. Pessimism Self-efficacy vs. Helplessness Hardiness Control Commitment Challenge Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum Optimism & Resilience Hopeful outlook Capable rather than helpless Better adjustment to stress & negative events Lower risk of anxiety & depression Better physical health Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

Self Efficacy & Resilience Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum Self Efficacy & Resilience Beliefs about: our ability to cope resources available Predict feelings & behaviour Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum 3 C’s of Hardiness Commitment Resilient people believe what they do is important Control Resilient people believe they can influence outcomes Challenge Resilient people consider a demand to be a challenge rather than a threat Kobasa, S.C., Maddi, S. R., Puccetti, M.C. & Zola, M.A. 1985. Effectiveness of hardiness, exercise and social support resources against illness. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 29, 525-533. Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

Explanations of Negative Events Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum Explanations of Negative Events Negative explanatory style is related to: Lower grades Lower immune system functioning More visits to doctors Poor health in middle & late adulthood Depression Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

Dimensions of Explanatory Style Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum Dimensions of Explanatory Style Personalization Who is to blame? Permanence How long will it last? Pervasiveness How much of my life will be affected? Seligman, M. E. P., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L. & Gillham, J. 1995. The Optimistic Child. New York: Harper Perennial. Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

Elements of a Negative Explanatory Style Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum Elements of a Negative Explanatory Style Belief that blame rests squarely on some personal characteristic of oneself Belief that problems are long-lasting Belief that problems affect all aspects of one’s life Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

Accurate & Flexible Explanations Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum Accurate & Flexible Explanations Take into account possibility of multiple causes Assess problems as temporary Understand that problems affect only some areas of one’s life Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

Why Do We Develop Inaccurate Thinking Habits? Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum Why Do We Develop Inaccurate Thinking Habits? Humans seem compelled to explain the world around them Often we do not have complete information Number of explanations is high We develop short cuts in our thinking Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

Development of a Negative Explanatory Style Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum Development of a Negative Explanatory Style Biological influences Parenting style – modeling Attachment relationships Predictability of early childhood environments Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

Increasing the Accuracy of Our Explanations Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum Increasing the Accuracy of Our Explanations Ask three questions: Who is to blame?  Consider multiple causes How long will it last?  Be realistic, consider your capacity to adjust How much of my life will be affected?  Think about areas of your life that will be affected the least Seligman, M. E. P., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L. & Gillham, J. 1995. The Optimistic Child. New York: Harper Perennial. Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

Putting it In Perspective Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum Putting it In Perspective Seligman’s Six Questions: What is the worst thing that can happen? What is one thing I can do to help stop the worst thing from happening? What is the best thing that can happen? What is one thing I can do to make the best thing happen? What is the most likely thing that will happen? What can I do to handle the most likely thing if it happens? Seligman, M. E. P., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L. & Gillham, J. 1995. The Optimistic Child. New York: Harper Perennial. Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective