ABCDE Model Analysis

In the same way that hope has colored the past, optimism and positive thinking has the ability to affect present situations. When enduring struggles or facing fears, hope can provide feelings of comfort. It can be used as a coping mechanism. Maya Angelou relates a tone of satisfaction when she weighs the conditions of her life

“Optimism claims everything will be all right despite reality. Hope accepts reality, the poverty of spirit that underlies all fear, instigates all tragedies, bureaucracy and institutional inertia” (“Optimism”). Optimism ignores the external reality and believes whatever the situation is, the outcome will always be positive. Optimism can be said as the way of thinking or the perception of people. “Hope, on the other hand, doesn’t ignore external realities; it simply knows the human heart’s capacity to withstand those realities, and it trusts in the inexhaustible power of our hearts to choose love over fear (“Optimism”). Hope comes from the heart and encourages one to believe that the situation will get

In his article, The Power of Negative Thinking, Oliver Burkeman discusses the realities behind excessive optimism and the benefits to negative thinking. Specifically, Burkeman argues that positive thinking hinders the preparation and motivation necessary to tackle actual real world problems whereas negative thinking allows for such preparation. His argument’s strengths come from his constant use of logic in regards to his evidence whether it be the “fire walkers” in the first paragraph or the opinions of Barbara Ehrenreich in the paragraph nine. In short, Burkeman does a superb job of championing the benefits of pessimism through his criticism on positive thinking.

For many, pessimism is not ideal, and optimism is their route of choice, as it develops through the arising

This Ted Talk is about optimism bias which is the tendency to think more positively about a person’s life than to think negatively. We have these high expectations that good things would happen than bad ones. It is a positive bias towards an event before the event actually happens. The optimism bias is a naturally occurring phenomenon that seems to become part of human nature because it is an overall tendency to bring upon good things in life over a pessimistic bias (Sharot, 2011).

Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life, by Martin E. P. Seligman, discussed how optimism can be achieved through time and positive thoughts. In some ways, he believes optimism and pessimism, also known as helplessness, are learned behaviors that can dictate your choices and the direction of your life. He wrote this book in hopes of teaching ways to become less helpless, or to learn ways to think more positively therefore living a better, more productive life.

Nevertheless, the enhancing of the wellbeing is a question that begged for research. So, Scheier and colleagues focused on various aspects of situations in their research and measured the level of optimism derived from these situations. It turned out that positivity enhances wellbeing due to high embracement of optimism. The article supports the articulation that there is power to positive thinking although it is not that simple and direct. All, believing in the good that future holds is crucial in relating to the many aspects of life.

There are many different views on positive thinking whether it is to be positive all the time as suggested by the film The Secret, be a realist and don’t be delusional as stated by Barbara Ehrenreich in her speech “How Positive Thinking Undermines America”, or just be somewhere in between such as a person who is optimistic but not to the point where they expect something they want to come out of the blue, they have to work for it.

This ABC and D model is about changing, disrupting or disputing the belief system that is

But could optimism be beneficial to one’s physical health? A study done by the Mayo Clinic, proves that “...adults shown to be pessimists based on psychological tests had higher death rates over a 30-year period than those who were shown optimistic” (Brody). The evidence presented demonstrates actual statistical correlation between those who have a positive perspective and the gain of benefits such as literally living longer. Additionally, the author of A Richer Life by Seeing the Glass Half Full, Jane E. Brody, gives the example of her optimistic lifestyle helping her when her mother passed away. Brody’s response to this tragedy is quite admirable, “Rather than dwell on the terrible void her death left in my life, I managed to gain value from the experience” (Brody). Positivity creates a space in the human mind in which opportunity is allowed to grow from the ashes of loss, an idea Morrie is constantly reminding Mitch of. The Mayo Clinic’s definition that, “Optimism is the belief that good things will happen to you and that negative events are temporary setbacks to be overcome” (qtd. in Brody), is in direct correlation to Morrie’s ideal way of life; a person may be going through the motions of life superficially by refuting optimism. And by doing so, they are missing the opportunity of depth in their

Positive psychology is highly applicable with the field of education. The Penn Resiliency Program (PRP) is a program intended to integrate, as its chief goal, deterrence to counter and assist the unhappiness epidemic among children and adolescence. It is founded upon the psychosomatic notion, asserting the highly significant fact, that our beliefs concerning experiences and their construal have an influence not only on our sentiments but also on our behavior format. The hypothetical basis of this program is the perception of optimism-pessimism particularized by Seligman, in which optimism and cynicism, measured as comparatively strong human qualities, have a pivotal influence on the entire working of human beings. They produce action or inactiveness, and regulate inspiration and the choice of approach for achievement, and the outline as well as the behaviors in which life purposes are comprehended. Optimism or pessimism explain the capability to surpass one’s personal restrictions, or for being overwhelmed by one’s emotional state of powerlessness. The two are both cultured dispositions, notwithstanding their moderately perpetual character. Subsequently the Penn Resiliency Program focuses on leaning on the expectations of cognitive-behavioral treatment implements an extensive variety of interventions and tools to encourage an constructive method of individual development (Pluskota,

“A” – Activating Event – something that triggers, an event or stimulus, that leads to “B” – the Be-lief System – the current belief that the person has about the situation, event, person or thing, which leads to “C” – Consequence or behavioral reaction. If B (Belief System) is not positive or appropriate, the “C” reactive consequence to “A” (The trigger), will make a problem. By introducing “D” – the disputed belief system, reflection and choices can occur.

Dispositional optimism (DO) is a psychological construct defined as the tendency to have positive expectations about the future (Carver & Scheier, 2014). DO is considered a relatively stable trait, and is based upon the expectancy-value theory of motivation. The theory suggests that an individual’s confidence in their ability to succeed (expectancy) and the predicted benefits of completing a task (value) determine the strength of their motivation. A person with a high score of DO (an optimist) is likely to exert effort when tackling a challenging task as they tend to be more confident when assessing their ability to complete a valued goal. The confidence in their abilities

Being optimistic is the main principle for most people. We may often hear the statement about “be an optimist, not a pessimist!” shouted by people. Sometimes you do it for yourself too. When facing such a failure or problem, this will not only help to relieve your heart. Being optimistic will help someone to be healthy in physical and mental. An optimist will find the best way in any circumstance and hope for every good thing can come to him/her. You may have gone through thousands of hard times. However, if you are a born optimist then you will not care of anything destructing you.

Illusions, a broader term for enduring bias and error, can oversimplify reality amd the future in order to maintain structure, create values and norms. However, when institutionalized, optimism becomes symbolic, brings forth devotion, loyalty to noble causes such as disease eradication. A culture of optimism can fosters stronger social bonds and cohesion to a singular message.