Optimism vs Pessimism

Definition

These terms refer to one's general outlook on life and belief about the future. Optimists expect positive outcomes while pessimists anticipate unfavorable ones.

Related terms

Positive Psychology:

A branch of psychology that focuses on improving quality of life and preventing mental illness by promoting positive emotions, traits, and institutions.

Cognitive Bias:

Systematic errors in thinking that affect the decisions and judgments that people make. Both optimism and pessimism can be considered cognitive biases.

Expectancy Theory:

This theory suggests that our behavior is based on our expected results - if we expect positive outcomes (optimism), we'll behave differently than if we expect negative ones (pessimism).