Optimism & Its Dimensions 1) Time 1) Time 2)  Personalization  2)  Personalization  3) Pervasiveness 3) Pervasiveness

Dimension #2: Personalization Personalization: Assigning responsibility to good or bad things that happen to you. Personalization: Assigning responsibility to good or bad things that happen to you. Optimistic people take credit for good things and find a reason or blame something or someone for bad things. Optimistic people take credit for good things and find a reason or blame something or someone for bad things. Pessimistic people give credit to others for good things and blame themselves for bad things. Pessimistic people give credit to others for good things and blame themselves for bad things. When good things happen, take credit and when bad things happen, find a reason other then you that this happened. When good things happen, take credit and when bad things happen, find a reason other then you that this happened.

Optimal Thinking When good things happen, take credit for it! Remember you are the one that is responsible for the fact that good things have happened. When good things happen, take credit for it! Remember you are the one that is responsible for the fact that good things have happened. When something bad happens, think of reasons (other then you) that are responsible for what happened. When something bad happens, think of reasons (other then you) that are responsible for what happened. Be careful not to do too much of this as then you may lose the sense of reality… use this one with some balance but for the purposes of this quizzes, do this all the time. Be careful not to do too much of this as then you may lose the sense of reality… use this one with some balance but for the purposes of this quizzes, do this all the time. You will notice some creative ways of thinking of why bad things happen such as giving credit to someone else. For example, if you lose in a sporting game; think of it as the other team wanted it more. You will notice some creative ways of thinking of why bad things happen such as giving credit to someone else. For example, if you lose in a sporting game; think of it as the other team wanted it more.

Improving Your Score For Good Things – Example #1 If you see a question that says… At your friend’s party the magician asks you to help him out… If you see a question that says… At your friend’s party the magician asks you to help him out… Notice this is a good thing. Notice this is a good thing. Remember good things = you; bad things ≠ you. Remember good things = you; bad things ≠ you. The two choices you have are a) It was just luck that I got picked or b) I looked really interested in what was going on. The two choices you have are a) It was just luck that I got picked or b) I looked really interested in what was going on. The more optimistic answer? The more optimistic answer? B! B!

Improving Your Score For Good Things – Example #2 If you see a question that says… You make a new friend… If you see a question that says… You make a new friend… Notice this is a good thing. Notice this is a good thing. Remember good things = you; bad things ≠ you. Remember good things = you; bad things ≠ you. The two choices you have are a) I am a nice person and b) The people that I meet are nice. The two choices you have are a) I am a nice person and b) The people that I meet are nice. The more optimistic answer? The more optimistic answer? A! A!

Improving Your Score for Bad Things – Example #1 If you see a question that tells you that you twist your ankle in gym class… If you see a question that tells you that you twist your ankle in gym class… Notice this is a bad thing Notice this is a bad thing Remember good things = you and bad things ≠ you. Remember good things = you and bad things ≠ you. The two choices are a) The past few weeks the sports we played in gym class have been dangerous and b) The past few weeks I have been clumsy in gym class. The two choices are a) The past few weeks the sports we played in gym class have been dangerous and b) The past few weeks I have been clumsy in gym class. The more optimistic answer? The more optimistic answer? A! Since it deflects the blame onto the sport rather then you. A! Since it deflects the blame onto the sport rather then you. An interesting note is that both answers start with the past few weeks, so this cannot be the dimension of time. An interesting note is that both answers start with the past few weeks, so this cannot be the dimension of time.

Improving Your Score For Bad Things – Example #2 If you see a question that says… You tell a joke and no one laughs If you see a question that says… You tell a joke and no one laughs Notice this is a bad thing. Notice this is a bad thing. Remember good things = you; bad things ≠ you. Remember good things = you; bad things ≠ you. The two choices you have are a) I don’t tell jokes well and b) The joke is so well known that it is no longer funny The two choices you have are a) I don’t tell jokes well and b) The joke is so well known that it is no longer funny The more optimistic answer? The more optimistic answer? B! B!