Changes

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: a [[doctrine]] that this world is the best possible world

*1: a [[doctrine]] that this world is the best possible world

*2: an inclination to put the most [[Favor|favorable]] construction upon [[actions]] and [[events]] or to anticipate the best possible outcome  

*2: an inclination to put the most [[Favor|favorable]] construction upon [[actions]] and [[events]] or to anticipate the best possible outcome

 

==Description==

==Description==

The [[Oxford English Dictionary]] defines '''optimism'''  as having "[[hopefulness]] and [[confidence]] about the [[future]] or successful outcome of something; a [[tendency]] to take a favourable or [[hopeful]] [[view]]." The word is [[originally]] derived from the [[Latin]] optimum, [[meaning]] "best." Unlike optimal [[thinking]] which is realistic in [[nature]], being optimistic, in the typical sense of the word, ultimately means one expects the best possible outcome from any given situation. This is usually referred to in [[psychology]] as dispositional optimism. [[Researchers]] sometimes [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operationalize operationalize] the term [[differently]] depending on their [[research]], however. For example, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Seligman Martin Seligman] and his fellow researchers define it in terms of explanatory style, which is based on the way one [[explains]] life [[events]]. As for any trait characteristic, there are several ways to [[evaluate]] optimism, such as various [[forms]] of the Life Orientation Test, for the original definition of optimism, or the Attributional Style Questionnaire designed to test optimism in terms of explanatory style. While the heritability of optimism is largely debatable, most researchers [[agree]] that it seems to be a [[biological]] trait to some small [[degree]], but it is also [[thought]] that optimism has more to do with [[environmental]] [[factors]], making it a largely learned trait. It has also been suggested that optimism could appear to be a [[hereditary]] trait because it is [[actually]] a [[manifestation]] of combined traits that are mostly heritable, like [[intelligence]] and [[temperament]]. Optimism may also be linked to [[health]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimism]

The [[Oxford English Dictionary]] defines '''optimism'''  as having "[[hopefulness]] and [[confidence]] about the [[future]] or successful outcome of something; a [[tendency]] to take a favourable or [[hopeful]] [[view]]." The word is [[originally]] derived from the [[Latin]] optimum, [[meaning]] "best." Unlike optimal [[thinking]] which is realistic in [[nature]], being optimistic, in the typical sense of the word, ultimately means one expects the best possible outcome from any given situation. This is usually referred to in [[psychology]] as dispositional optimism. [[Researchers]] sometimes [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operationalize operationalize] the term [[differently]] depending on their [[research]], however. For example, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Seligman Martin Seligman] and his fellow researchers define it in terms of explanatory style, which is based on the way one [[explains]] life [[events]]. As for any trait characteristic, there are several ways to [[evaluate]] optimism, such as various [[forms]] of the Life Orientation Test, for the original definition of optimism, or the Attributional Style Questionnaire designed to test optimism in terms of explanatory style. While the heritability of optimism is largely debatable, most researchers [[agree]] that it seems to be a [[biological]] trait to some small [[degree]], but it is also [[thought]] that optimism has more to do with [[environmental]] [[factors]], making it a largely learned trait. It has also been suggested that optimism could appear to be a [[hereditary]] trait because it is [[actually]] a [[manifestation]] of combined traits that are mostly heritable, like [[intelligence]] and [[temperament]]. Optimism may also be linked to [[health]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimism]