In a study I am reading there is considerable overlap between resilience and optimism and the author poses this question. Does anyone know of any studies adressing this?
Hello Merisa,
This might be a good source to have a better understanding:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jts.21691/full
Regards
Theodora Issa
Excellent question. To begin, really depends on how one defines resilience. A great definition of resilience in the tradition of Cicchetti, Toth, and Rutter would be a dynamic process the promotes positive adaption among individuals exposed to severe forms of adversity, stress, and/or trauma.
Optimism would be a protective factor that could promote resilience.
A recent book by Southwick & Charney entitled Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life's Greatest Challenges has at least a chapter devoted to optimism. More broadly, however, optimism would itself overlap with other constructs and other protective factors.
Another related article of interest was publicated in 2012 in Psychosomatic Medicine by Chen and colleauges (senior author Seeman) on the "shift-and-persist hypothesis that directly addresses a related subject. Hope this helps!
Thanks Robert-Paul for your response - indeed, optimism would itself overlap with other constructs and other protective factors... well, as for Optimism - during my research on ethical mindsets - optimism was one of the ethical mindsets components...
You can reach this thesis if you wish on:
http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=131986&local_base=GEN01-ERA02
Regards
That was a great answer Robert-Paul. Other materials that address optimism and resilience may be books by Martin Seligman, Ph. D.. He has one entitled, Learned Optimism, and his most recent is Flourish (2011).
Optimism has been defined as a dispositional trait, and an explanitory style. Seligman mentions it is a trait that may have some biological (genetic) origins, but definitely is developed via environmental factors. He also often refers to it as an explanatory style. I personally like to look at it as an explanatory style, the way one interprets life experiences. It is a trait that can be developed to some extent, but people seem to tend to be born "optimists" or "pessimists". There are behaviors that are typical of the optimistic person, such as having and displaying a sense of gratitude.
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