Learned Optimism
by Qian Wilcox and Marla O'Driscoll
Summary posting of three key themes explored within the Wiki:
After searching the wiki websites, we have found three key themes as follows: First, learned optimism is the idea in positive psychology that a talent for joy, like any other, can be cultivated. It is contrasted with learned helplessness. Learning optimism is done by consciously challenging any negative self talk. Second, Learned optimism was defined by Martin Seligman and published in his 1990 book, Learned Optimism. The benefits of an optimistic outlook are many: Optimists are higher achievers and have better overall health. Third, the acceptance of situations we have no control over is thought to be paramount as a stress management strategy. Focusing on the positive is reframing the current situation. It is an appreciation of the present moment. Acknowledge the negative. Learn from it, but don’t dwell on it. Focus on the positive aspects and build on them. (Qian Wilcox)
6 peer-reviewed journal articles:
1. Liamputtong, P., Haritavorn, N. & Kiatying-Angsulee, N. (2012). Living Positively: The Experiences of Thai Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Central Thailand. Qualitative Health Research, 22 (4). 441–451. Doi: 10.1177/1049732311421680
Abstract: This article examines how women with chronic or terminal diseases dealt with their illness and what strategies they used to maintain their well-being. Women that used the tactic of ‘living positively’ creating a sense of optimism were able to combat their illnesses rather than those women living in a negative sense. (Marla O’Driscoll)
2. Martens, W. (2007). OPTIMISM THERAPY: An Adapted Psycho Therapeutic Strategy for Adult Female Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association, 10(3). 30-37.
Abstract: The article is about an adapted model of optimism therapy for survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The treatment efficacy and the necessary activities before and at the beginning of optimism therapy is given in the article. (Qian Wilcox)
3. Nicolle, A., Symmonds, M. & Dolan, R. J. (2011). Optimistic biases in observational learning of value. Cognition, 119 (3). 394–402. Doi: 10.1016/j.cognition.2011.02.004
Abstract: This article discusses action outcomes being learned either by trial and error or by observing the outcomes of actions performed by others. Positive and negative reinforcement was used to determine optimistic biases in observational learning of value. (Marla O’Driscoll)
4. Paczkowski, E. & B. Baker. (2008). Parenting Children with Developmental Delays: The Role of Positive Beliefs. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 1(3), PP 156-175.
Abstract: Higher levels of child behavior problems and also parenting stress than parents of typically developing children are always reported by parents of children with developmental delays. This study examined how mothers' positive beliefs influence the relation between children's behavior problems and mothers' parenting stress among families of children who are developmentally delayed or typically developing and assessed at ages 3, 5, and 7 years. (Qian Wilcox)
5. Richter, S. and A. Schick, & K. Lankisch. (2012). A glass full of optimism: Enrichment effects on cognitive bias in a rat model of depression. Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience, 12(3). PP 527-542.
Abstract: Biased information processing is a critical causal and maintenance factor, because the investigations of cognitive biases in animals are very valuable and contribute to animal welfare research and help to refine our understanding of human emotional disorders. (Qian Wilcox)
6. Scoffham, S. & Barnes, J. (2011). Happiness matters: towards a pedagogy of happiness and well-being. Curriculum Journal, 22 (4). 535–548. Doi: 10.1080/09585176.2011.627214
Abstract: This article considers the impact that happiness has on learning and the school curriculum. Recent reports show the importance of happiness being present in a person’s childhood and how there is evidence suggesting that periods of happiness are linked to personal growth, health and development. There is also evidence that happiness and optimism can be learned traits rather than being fixed. (Marla O’Driscoll)
6 books:
1. Brandt, Phyllis. R. (2011). Psychology of Optimism: Psychology of Emotions, Motivations and Actions. New York: Nova Science Publishers.
Book Description: This book presents research in the study of optimism including the relationship between dispositional optimism and musculoskeletal pain, the phenomenological and statistical relationships between optimism and sense of coherence and self-efficacy and genetic influences on optimism and mental health. (Marla O’Driscoll)
2. Fox, M. J. (2009). Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist. New York: Hyperion.
Book Description: Always Looking Up is a book by Michael J. Fox where he writes about his personal philosophy that carried him through his darkest hours with Parkinson’s disease. (Marla O’Driscoll)
3. Lopez, J. S. & C. Snyder. (2003). Positive Psychological Assessment: A Handbook of Models and Measures. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Book Description: Striking a vital balance: developing a complementary focus on human weakness and strength through positive psychological assessment. (Qian Wilcox)
4. Seaward, B. L. (2004). Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Well-Being. Sudbury, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Book Description: This book helps students to approach stress management in a livable, realistic, and creative way. It recognizes the premise that coping with stress is a "total" experience and Seaward's approach to spirituality and stress really opened the minds and hearts of the students. (Qian Wilcox)
5. Seligman, M. E. P. (2006). Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life. New York: Random House, Inc.
Book Description: Martin E. P. Seligman, known as the father of the new science of positive psychology, has researched and educated people on how anyone can learn optimism and how optimism can essentially enhance a person’s quality of life. In this book Seligman demonstrates how optimistic skills can decrease depression, boost your immune system, better develop your potential and make you happier. (Marla O’Driscoll)
6. Snyder, C. R. (1999). Coping: The Psychology of What Works. New York, Oxford University Press.
Book Description: Most people take the process of coping for granted as they go about their daily activities. However, when people face stressors--they become acutely aware of the coping process and their day-to-day coping skills. This book builds on people's strengths and emphasizes their role as positive copers. (Qian Wilcox)
6 Streamed Media:
1. http://digital.films.com.libproxy.nau.edu/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=43582,
Accentuate the Positive: Using Positive Psychology in the Classroom (55:00)
Positive Education, a program developed by psychologist Martin Seligman, is designed to help children cultivate ways of becoming happier, more resilient people. This video captures the range of events and emotions that the Australian teens work through, including bullying and self-esteem issues, as they attempt to employ Positive Education techniques. (Qian Wilcox)
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me9TI9JhvZw
If we want to live an extraordinary life, we've gotta develop our ability to shape our minds. In this episode, the video will take the audience to have a quick look at Martin Seligman's great book "Learned Optimism" and some science on how to get their optimism on. (Qian Wilcox)
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeEP2zR5PDI
simple as A,B,C...a college girl leading us to learned optimism through her power point slides... (Qian Wilcox)
4. http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&type=A211US105&p=videos+on+optimism
George Bonanno, Clinical Psychologist, Teacher's College of Columbia University and Matthieu Ricard, Buddhist Monk, Mind & Life Institute explain the importance of optimism. (Marla O'Driscoll)
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmO22xzHFqg
Daniel Kainer - The Power of Optimism: A Little Goes a Long Way! (Marla O'Driscoll)
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG8GhQcVJIc
The Art of Optimism: Bryna Kranzler.
A graduate of Barnard College and Yale University, Bryna Kranzler is the author of The Accidental Anarchist, which is based on the diaries her grandfather kept during the Russo-Japanese War and she describes how his optimism helped him through a horrific time in his life. (Marla O'Driscoll)
6 credible websites:
1. http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/06/28/learned-optimism-martin-seligman/
Brain Pickings is the brain child of Maria Popova, an interestingness hunter-gatherer and curious mind at large, who has also written for Wired UK, The New York Times, Harvard’s Nieman Journalism Lab, and The Atlantic, among others, and is an MIT Futures of Entertainment Fellow. (Qian Wilcox)
2. http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/books.aspx?id=186
Authentic Happiness is the homepage of Dr. Martin Seligman, Director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania and founder of positive psychology, a branch of psychology which focuses on the empirical study of such things as positive emotions, strengths-based character, and healthy instructions. (Qian Wilcox)
3. http://www.shearonforschools.com/learned_optimism.htm
Contents of Dr. Martin Seligman's Book "Learned Optimism" (Qian Wilcox)
4. http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/optimism
This website gives a list of researched articles and the websites so that a person can easily find information on optimism. (Marla O'Driscoll)
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2894461/
U.S. National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health
Optimism and It's Impact on Mental and Physical Well-Being (Marla O'Driscoll)
6. http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/owch/pdf/conferences/ChristinaHibbert-CreatingEmotionalHealth.pdf
Arizona Department of Health Services
Creating Emotional Health: Intervention Strategies for Girls and Women
Creating Emotional Health = Positive Psychological Interventions = Optimism (Marla O'Driscoll)
Individual Documents:
Original Creation: Power Point (more information on learned optimism and how to handle stress.)
Learned Optimism.pptx (Qian Wilcox)
Original Creation: Brochure (Information about Dr. Martin Seligman and his book Learned Optimism; Optimism vs. Pessimism; and Optimism Quotes)
FW 311 Individual Document.docx (Marla O'Driscoll)
Summary Applications of Transformational Practices (First Practice by Qian Wilcox)
The practice I’ve selected for writing journal for the first half of the semester is learned optimism.
“Learned optimism is the idea in positive psychology that a talent for joy, like any other, can be cultivated. Optimists are higher achievers and have better overall health.” (Martin Seligman)
I found this information on our textbook: “It’s no longer just a truism that thinking positively is a good idea. If you have uplifting thoughts, you are building a very different brain than if you have negative ones.” (Measuring the Immeasurable, p. 21)
The easiest part of my practice of learned optimism is that I am quite good at finding the rosy side of the things. The most difficult part of the practice is that sometimes things goes wrong and it is very frustrated at the moment, it’s really not easy to see the good side of the story, at least during that time span.
The other day, when my husband backed the car from garage, he was watching only the right side with the mirror since our garage is very tight for two cars. Then he forgot that his son’s car was parking outside, so he ended up scratching his son’s car before he could stop his own car. At the moment, of course, my husband was very upset. And his son is also very serious on his face. Well, I said, “It could be worse, you know. So it’s not that bad that you only scratched the car a little bit on the side.” That’s one example of my learned optimism.
Another example comes from my mom. In Dr. Seligman’s book “Learned Optimism”, he has done a children’s attributional style questionnaire. Optimistic children tend to become optimistic teenagers and adults. On average they will be less depressed, achieve more, and be healthier than children whose scores are in the pessimistic range. So, where to children get their explanatory style? Dr. Seligman suggests the first one is Mother's Explanatory Style. Children ask "Why?" constantly, and are constantly listening to the explanations of adults in their lives (with the mother's explanations being heard most often). Thus, if the mother's style is personal, pervasive, and permanent when bad events happen, the child hears and internalizes this. If, on the other hand, the mother assigns specific, temporary, and external causes to bad events, the child learns to talk to herself in the same way.
I am very lucky to have my mom, an absolute optimistic person. Actually my mom has a very sad childhood, her mom died not long after giving birth, and my mom had to be given away to have a chance growing up. But my mom has a very strong mind, somehow she got the true philosophy of “Learned Optimism,” and she used to give me a lot of influence of positive thinking.
The most meaningful in the practice of learned optimism for me is that it can make my life happier, and make the people around me feel happier. Talking about change, the practice of learned optimism is like a stone thrown into the lake causing the rippling spreading from the center to the outer edge of the lake; the learned optimism is also spreading the good feelings from the practicing person to the others nearby.
Our TA Jacqui wrote this in her comment on my post, "Self-discovery takes courage and persistence, neither of which comes easy." Similarly, I found my own life crises help me become a hardy person. Since my father is a very pessimistic person, I felt I have grown up through his sarcastic attitude and bitter comment on me. At the beginning, I lost self-esteem under his negative influence (I have been through a very rough teenage, developing into a complete rebel), but later when I achieved my own dreams one by one, gradually I have built up my own self-confidence again. I agree with Dr. Seligman’s conclusion that the explanation style in our mind makes us different person, either with learned optimism or learned helplessness. Learned optimism is not easy for me, but that’s my choice. All in all, that’s a very meaning move. I felt I have learned so much during this practice and I have dug down in self-discovery and finally I am able to walk the walk using my learned optimism.
Works Cited
Measuring the Immeasurable: The Scientific Case for Spirituality. (2008). Boulder, CO: Sounds True Publishers.
Seligman, M. (1998). Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life. New York: Pocket Books.
Summary of Reflections: Optimism
The practice of optimism was a weird one for me. I thought it would be easy, but it really wasn’t. To be completely honest I should not have taken classes this semester and I have been extremely unmotivated and unfocused all semester. Even on the days where I knew I was probably going to fail a quiz, I kept telling myself I would work it out, I thought positively and convinced myself everything would be alright. Even when my grades remained…well horrible, I kept telling myself to just try more, read more, focus, you can do it. My grades have gone up a bit, maybe not enough but even with what little points remain, if I really buckle down I can pass. I do not strive for a C normally but that is better than a F by just giving up. I was in the Marines, that bad attitude was supposed to stay at home when I shipped out. I learned that I really don’t have to put in a lot of effort to succeed. I just told myself to do it and focus and what do you know? My grades were pretty good with a small amount of effort versus none! In my human diseases class that just started, I skimmed through the reading and got a 95 on my first quiz….why did I not put in the effort earlier?! I was reminded again how important discipline is and that school doesn’t have to consume your life. Study smart really sums up what I am trying to say. I learned that optimism could be taught and almost forced even when you have negative opinions about life or something specific like raising your grades. I feel more positive now and I have shown myself that with just a little more effort I can reach my goals in a personal or professional setting. I feel like the normal happy, positive Drew that everyone knows. No sulking haha. Two personal applications to optimism are pretty simple in my opinion. When you tell yourself you can do something over and over with positive reinforcement and then positive results, you believe it, you believe in yourself. Then you don’t have to tell yourself to be positive anymore, you just are more positive. Another is the confidence that is gained from it when you see the results you want by just putting in that extra 20 minutes. The professional applications to being optimistic are pretty endless when you know you can achieve your goals through hard work and dedication. I think with a lot of optimism in a work place one would strive to do more, work harder, and hopefully get a promotion or something along those lines. Another benefit would be to show the people around you that you understand the work, you are competent, and you can do more if necessary. I day/week trade now for a job so I don’t need to prove anything to anyone but myself. Even though there is more risk with this job, I have stayed positive and actually done very well. I think everyone could use a bit of extra optimistic thinking in their lives. (Andrew Gerry)
Comments (14)
Students said
at 9:25 pm on Feb 23, 2014
Hi Optimistic Wiki Creators!! So happy Debby could relocate your newly named Wiki page. Looking great!
Jacqui :)
Students said
at 9:31 pm on Feb 23, 2014
Ladies, are your abstracts copied/pasted from your sources? If so, remember that Debby would like a 2-3 abstract in your own words. :)
Students said
at 11:33 pm on Feb 26, 2014
Hi Jacqui,
I am also very happy that Debbie was able to relocate our Wiki Draft; Qian and I had worked very hard to put together what we had done so far. And yes my abstracts were copied/pasted from my sources, but I have now made the corrections needed.
Marla
Students said
at 7:35 pm on Mar 7, 2014
Hey group,
Great job!! The two pieces that I enjoyed most about your wiki would have to be how clean it was and the detail with every piece. I think that it was very well done and organized, every piece was easy to follow and easy to understand. I wish I had this as an example when I was creating my own. I feel that my was jumbled and am looking forward to working on it more. Thanks for letting me see yours! If I were to change or make a suggestion it would be to not forget to make it really original and your own. Add some life to it and make things with a little more creativity. (Karl Beeston)
Students said
at 3:09 pm on Mar 11, 2014
Wow! Nicely done guys! One of the things I liked was how incredibly organized the whole page was. Numbering each of the sections made it very clear and easy to follow. The second thing was the fun and inviting photo on the top of the page. It just made me feel immediately more happy and consequently, more optimistic as soon as I saw it. :) One of my suggestions for you would be to alphabetize your resources in the book and journal article sections. That will just add to the flow. The other thing is to maybe add a few descriptive sentences for a few of the resources that only had the citation listed. This would help a user to have a better idea of what the reference might be about and if it would be of help to them. You both really created a nice wiki! (Debi Warner)
Students said
at 7:50 pm on Mar 20, 2014
Qian and Marla,
The page was very well constructed very clean and simple. For your summary, I think you should rework it to be a summary of your topic; what you have learned through your research, not basically the grading rubric and help/directions for the assignment. Also don't forget to write a brief summary/description for your websites as well. (Amber Romm)
Students said
at 5:48 pm on Mar 30, 2014
The page is very nicely set up and each section is clear in it's content. The summary I believe should be a summary of your topic instead of a summary on wikis. I would add some more pictures to make the content appeal to the eye. The picture at the top of the page is great and adds a great touch to page so maybe if you add more pictures like that or even says it would be more interesting. (Tracey Higdon)
Students said
at 9:53 pm on Mar 30, 2014
Each section is very clear with the different colors, they aren't too bright or obnoxious so reading from one to the next is not distracting. It looks very well organized and it's an easy read. This is definitely very well done! My only suggestion would be to add a few pictures in, maybe one for each section? Otherwise it looks great! (Andrew Gerry)
Students said
at 8:28 am on Mar 31, 2014
Learned Optimism group,
Excellent job! I like everything about your page from the first picture to the soft colors you chose which I felt did not over power the page to the final picture which wrapped it all up. I was a little confused with the opening abstract which talked about "wiki's" rather than optimism. I think fixing the opening abstract and adding some additional summaries of your websites you chose will make you wiki awesome. Very well done. (Paul Downing)
Students said
at 10:21 am on Mar 31, 2014
This page is very clean, neat and interesting to get the readers’ attention. It is easy to understand what optimism is and how to learn it. If there were pictures of the books that you posted on the website, it will be helpful to the readers when they need to find the book. Very good job guys. (Gyu Won Lee)
Students said
at 5:43 pm on Mar 31, 2014
Hello, Learned Optimism Group!
Great job! I love the picture, it made me smile! And the words were pretty terrific too. But I think my very favorite thing is the original piece on learned optimism. I don't know it was meant to be bookmarks, or double fold pamphlets, or just an original creation, but the quotes and information on them are brilliant! I just really enjoyed looking at them. The other thing for which I'd like to commend you is the aesthetic look of your page. Aside from the one page I saw with links, which kept the volume down, your's is the neatest and cleanest page I've seen. It really appeals to my linear, balanced, geometric side! Great job. It is so easy to read and to navigate.
The only two suggestions I have are pretty minor. I was under the impression that the opening paragraph was supposed to be an introduction to YOUR wikki. You have provided a VERY thoughtful and informative paragraph, but I fear it missed the point of the assignment. And the only other suggestion I have is that a couple of the websites don't have anything to make the reader want to click the link. Perhaps a little blurb on what the reader will find there - like has been done with the other ones.
On the whole, you really did a wonderful job!
Judy
Students said
at 4:58 pm on Apr 8, 2014
Our classmates Amber, Paul and Judy all mentioned that the summary at the very beginning of our wiki should be the summary about our topic "Learned Optimism", not about wiki itself. I think they are right. And I like others' work with their summary about their topics too. I felt I have learned so much just by reading their summaries at the beginning of their wikis. Therefore, I have revised our wiki summary like this:
After searching the wiki websites, we have found three key themes as follows: First, learned optimism is the idea in positive psychology that a talent for joy, like any other, can be cultivated. It is contrasted with learned helplessness. Learning optimism is done by consciously challenging any negative self talk. Second, Learned optimism was defined by Martin Seligman and published in his 1990 book, Learned Optimism. The benefits of an optimistic outlook are many: Optimists are higher achievers and have better overall health. Third, the acceptance of situation we have no control over is thought to be paramount as a stress management strategy. Focusing on the positive is reframing the current situation. It is an appreciation of the present moment. Acknowledge the negative. Learn from it, but don’t dwell on it. Focus on the positive aspects and build on them. (Qian Wilcox)
Students said
at 1:46 am on Apr 9, 2014
Per recommendations from fellow classmates and our instructor Jacqui: I have alphabetized the Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles and Books. I also make corrections to our citations/references including capitals, italics, etc. I have added pictures of each book that we have included in our Wiki so that people may see a picture of the book and it may make it easier for someone to find the book we are talking about and I have also changed the font to a larger size and made the words a darker color so that our Wiki is easier to read. (Marla O'Driscoll)
Students said
at 5:26 pm on Apr 26, 2014
I deleted our summary and re-posted Qian's new and revised summary of our Wiki: Deleted - After searching the wiki websites, we have found three key themes as follows: First, wiki is a content management system, which maximizes the coordination work among all the group members, better than email and other coordination tools. The most important functioning buttons inside wiki are “edit, save and link”, through which group members can make their posts into documents, and web pages. Second, our transformational change wiki is working through Cline Library's Health and Human Services Team. It will help us to create, read, evaluate, reflect on, and integrate inside and outside of our class. The purposes of this wiki are to empower us to participate as a researcher for finding and adding resources on transformational change to complete collaborative assignments. Third, being as the member of the group, each of us has been assigned a wiki topic so that we can communicate directly with the partner via e-mail, phone, the wiki, or other means to work collaboratively to produce our final Draft Wiki. Also everyone needs to place the name in parentheses following the resource. Each of us is responsible for posting minimum 3 peer-reviewed journal articles, 3 books, 3 media elements, 3 credible websites; and 1 original creation of some type (document, art, power point, slideshow, any other original creation). I also added a few descriptive sentences for a few of our resources/websites that only had the citation listed. (Marla O'Driscoll)
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