Positive Psychology: Optimism, Hope, Wisdom, and Courage
One’s expectancy that good things rather than bad will happen
When a goals is of sufficient value, the individual would produce an expectancy about attaining that goal
Stable trait independent form self-efficacy
Attribution: the process by which individuals explain the causes of behavior and events
The optimist uses adaptive causal attributions to explain negative experiences/events
Makes external, variable, and specific attributions for failure-like events rather than internal, stable, and global attributes
There is a genetic basis of optimism
Optimism can stem from childhood experiences that foster trust and secure attachments to parental figures
Life Optimism Test (LOT)
Index of Optimism
self-mastery, self-esteem
can predict outcomes related to coping and adjustment
staring college
performing in work situations
caring for Alzheimer’s patients
coping with cancer
coping in general
defined as a goal-directed thinking in which the person utilizes pathways of thinking (the capacity to find ways to desired goals) and agency thinking (motivations to use these ways)
If there’s a will, there’s a way.
Hope has no hereditary contribution but rather a learned cognitive set about goal-directed thinking
inherent part of parenting
components of hopeful that are in place by the age of 2
strong attachment to caregivers is crucial for imparting hope
Hope Scale
Children’s Hope Scale
State Hope Scale
academics, sports, physical health, adjustment, psychotherapy
level of goal-directed thinking of a large group of people
it is operative when several people join together to tackle a goal that would be impossible for any one person
involves an integration of knowledge, experience, and deep understanding that incorporates tolerance for the uncertainties of life as well as its ups and downs
Wisdom as Expert Knowledge
factual knowledge in fundamental pragmatics of life
knowledge in contexts of life and societal change
knowledge which considers uncertainties of life
procedural knowledge in fundamental pragmatics of life
knowledge which considers relativism values and goals
Definition of Wisdom: good judgment and advice in important but uncertain areas of life
found in persons seeking contemplative life (Sophia)
practical nature (Phronesis)
scientific understanding (Episteme)
process used to balance personal interests with environmental context to achieve a common good
this involves using tacit knowledge and personal values to form a judgment of or resolution for competing interests
resolving conflicts leads to enhanced discernment and judgment
wisdom builds on knowledge, cognitive skill and personality characteristics
exposure to wise role-models
fluid intelligence, creativity, openness to experience, psychological mindedness, and general life-experiences orchestrate to produce wisdom
Sage: the carrier of wisdom
Age: timeless and universal knowledge of wisdom
includes the understanding of affect in problem-solving
professional specialization does play a role in the manifestation of wisdom
Values in Action Classification of Strengths
Wisdom Development Scale
self-knowledge
altruism
judgment
life knowledge/ life skills
emotional management
defined as behavioral approach despite the experience of fear, in an effort to better understand its relationship with anxiety, fear, and behavior
the planning and execution of great and expansive projects by putting forth ample and splendid effort of the mind
Confidence, with these projects, the mind self-confidently collects itself with sure hope
Patience, the voluntary and lengthy insurance of arduous and difficult things, which are honorable and useful
Perseverance, ongoing persistence in a well-considered plan
Moral Courage: behavioral expression of authenticity in the face of discomfort, disapproval or rejection
Physical Courage: maintenance of societal good by expression of physical behavior
Vital Courage: perseverance through a disease or disability even when outcome is ambiguous
Physiological Courage: strength in facing destructive habits
Civil Courage: brave behaviors accompanied by anger and indignation that intends to reinforce societal and ethical norms without considering own social cost
Woodard-Pury Courage Scale
one’s job or self-interest
one’s beliefs
individual social and/or moral situations
situations relevant to family
Values in Action Inventory of Strengths
One’s expectancy that good things rather than bad will happen
When a goals is of sufficient value, the individual would produce an expectancy about attaining that goal
Stable trait independent form self-efficacy
Attribution: the process by which individuals explain the causes of behavior and events
The optimist uses adaptive causal attributions to explain negative experiences/events
Makes external, variable, and specific attributions for failure-like events rather than internal, stable, and global attributes
There is a genetic basis of optimism
Optimism can stem from childhood experiences that foster trust and secure attachments to parental figures
Life Optimism Test (LOT)
Index of Optimism
self-mastery, self-esteem
can predict outcomes related to coping and adjustment
staring college
performing in work situations
caring for Alzheimer’s patients
coping with cancer
coping in general
defined as a goal-directed thinking in which the person utilizes pathways of thinking (the capacity to find ways to desired goals) and agency thinking (motivations to use these ways)
If there’s a will, there’s a way.
Hope has no hereditary contribution but rather a learned cognitive set about goal-directed thinking
inherent part of parenting
components of hopeful that are in place by the age of 2
strong attachment to caregivers is crucial for imparting hope
Hope Scale
Children’s Hope Scale
State Hope Scale
academics, sports, physical health, adjustment, psychotherapy
level of goal-directed thinking of a large group of people
it is operative when several people join together to tackle a goal that would be impossible for any one person
involves an integration of knowledge, experience, and deep understanding that incorporates tolerance for the uncertainties of life as well as its ups and downs
Wisdom as Expert Knowledge
factual knowledge in fundamental pragmatics of life
knowledge in contexts of life and societal change
knowledge which considers uncertainties of life
procedural knowledge in fundamental pragmatics of life
knowledge which considers relativism values and goals
Definition of Wisdom: good judgment and advice in important but uncertain areas of life
found in persons seeking contemplative life (Sophia)
practical nature (Phronesis)
scientific understanding (Episteme)
process used to balance personal interests with environmental context to achieve a common good
this involves using tacit knowledge and personal values to form a judgment of or resolution for competing interests
resolving conflicts leads to enhanced discernment and judgment
wisdom builds on knowledge, cognitive skill and personality characteristics
exposure to wise role-models
fluid intelligence, creativity, openness to experience, psychological mindedness, and general life-experiences orchestrate to produce wisdom
Sage: the carrier of wisdom
Age: timeless and universal knowledge of wisdom
includes the understanding of affect in problem-solving
professional specialization does play a role in the manifestation of wisdom
Values in Action Classification of Strengths
Wisdom Development Scale
self-knowledge
altruism
judgment
life knowledge/ life skills
emotional management
defined as behavioral approach despite the experience of fear, in an effort to better understand its relationship with anxiety, fear, and behavior
the planning and execution of great and expansive projects by putting forth ample and splendid effort of the mind
Confidence, with these projects, the mind self-confidently collects itself with sure hope
Patience, the voluntary and lengthy insurance of arduous and difficult things, which are honorable and useful
Perseverance, ongoing persistence in a well-considered plan
Moral Courage: behavioral expression of authenticity in the face of discomfort, disapproval or rejection
Physical Courage: maintenance of societal good by expression of physical behavior
Vital Courage: perseverance through a disease or disability even when outcome is ambiguous
Physiological Courage: strength in facing destructive habits
Civil Courage: brave behaviors accompanied by anger and indignation that intends to reinforce societal and ethical norms without considering own social cost
Woodard-Pury Courage Scale
one’s job or self-interest
one’s beliefs
individual social and/or moral situations
situations relevant to family
Values in Action Inventory of Strengths