@DaringSprinter It's just common sense imo. But we all have opinions, even researchers. Also, the polite dig at my intelligence was noted. lol It's just a demonstration of confirmation bias. That will be my last word on the topic. Good day! Or cloudy day!
*Edit - The article is a secondary source. The article assumes that 36k is a fair sample size to predict the entirety of the population. The information was gathered from surveys. The "intelligence" was measured by :
"as measured by a broad range of cognitive skills, including memory, verbal fluency, fluid reasoning and numerical reasoning."
That's a pretty biased measure of intelligence. As noted earlier, Howard Gardener's theory of multiple intelligence is a more updated idea of intelligence. E.g. - A brilliant writer who has trouble paying their bills, Michael Jackson made $500 million in his career and died $200 million in debt (was he unintelligent?), and Albert Einstein and Henry David Thoreau needed people around them to take care of their day to day needs bc their genius only extended so far but they couldn't function like an average human being (pay bills, do chores , complete daily tasks, etc.).
Just as I thought, the study was too vague or too specific in defining intelligence and optimism. (*edit - the study mainly attacks unrealistic optimistism, and not all types of optimism. Again, financial education can upend these skewed results based on loose and biased data collection and incorrect assumptions about cognitive ability or intelligence. Personal finance can help folks better budget, save, invest, and predict their future [even though that's a limited method to measure intelligence] ). Of course I'm going to do my due diligence in analyzing anyone's work - in the past, scientists have published conclusions on intelligence based on race or gender as well. I wouldn't say that science is bunk, but as an amateur sociologist I have a healthy skepticism for scientific studies - especially for social sciences. Lastly, there's also the idea that intelligence or ability is fixed, but the theory of growth vs. fixed mindset upends that whole concept. I question the accuracy and validity of this study. Good day.
Stoked to see you back, @DaringSprinter! You always give me food for thought, and I've missed you. 😊
In counseling, the term "toxic positivity" was brought up, which I thought was phenomenal. Everyone seems to think positivity is always a good thing, but the way I see it, there's optimism, pessimism, and realism. I would always prefer realism.
~ Sunset Snuggles
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@SunsetSnuggles, it's good to be back! I'm glad you're still here.
I agree, realism is the goal (and far too many people think anything less than optimism is pessimism). If you're interested in checking out the study itself, it's linked in the first sentence of the OP.
It's also linked in the article, in the last two words of my last comment, and right here!
I like to think that there are degrees of optimism that correlate to degrees of intelligence.
I will admit to not having read the study, but I'm curious about what definition was used for the term "optimism." I have a brand of what I call optimism, which is characterized by the fact that good things are possible. I once lived with a person who claimed that, unlike me, she was a realist, because she saw bad things as inevitable.
I believe that my choices can influence the likelihood of good or bad things happening, which is why I have clear goals in life and take steps to move toward them. In doing so, I recognize that my efforts do not prevent negative outcomes: I just believe that reaching out in hope for the things I want MIGHT bring better results than shrinking in fear from things I don't want.
this is like the argument as to why toxic positivity is bad. i think in a different angle, looking at the brightside can help us regulate our emotions to continue making decisions and the issue is when we don't make the right ones.
because if you're pessismistic enough to want to give up because "oh it's all bad it's pointless" you wont make any decision to keep pushing. but if you're so optimistic that you make poor decisions, i think the disconnect is that you haven't reassed the situation well enough that you might be in denial of the problems or unwise with the decisions you make.
staying positive i believe should be in the realm of actually thinking "PROGRESS" what makes for good progress despite our adversity or issues now... you're not trying to feel better but be in a better spot and to do that, you may need to at least alleviate some of the bad feelings that is dysregulating you and keeping you from thinking more thoroughly about your options. some people can do it without having to ease their emotions but it's a hard thing to explain when everyone feels different levels of stress and experience dysregulation differently. some do manage and some absolutely cannot manage themselves when they are stressed.