Cultural influences on optimism and pessimism: Differences in Western and Eastern construals of the self.

Chang, Edward C.

doi:10.1037/10385-012

Cited by 54 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Optimism, in recent years, has been the subject of a great deal of attention as well was an extensive body of research (for reviews, see Chang 2001;Peterson 2000;Peterson and Bossio 1991;Scheier and Carver 1992;Seligman 1991;Snyder 1994;Taylor 1989). Measures of optimism have been shown to predict diverse and important benefits for individuals-positive mood (Weisse 1992), mastery-oriented achievement (Curry et al 1997;Peterson 1988), physical health (Kamen-Siegel et al 1991;Peterson 1988;Scheier and Carver 1987;Segerstrom et al 1998), and greater recovery from illness or surgery , to name but a few.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Translation and Validation Study of the Life Orientation Test Revised in the Greek Speaking Population of Nurses among Three Hospitals in Athens and Ioannina

et al. 2009

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Translation and Validation Study of the Life Orientation Test Revised in the Greek Speaking Population of Nurses among Three Hospitals in Athens and Ioannina

et al. 2009

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“…Dispositional optimism is one of the several theoretical perspectives that frame the construct of optimism as an individual difference (Carroll, Sweeny, & Shepperd, 2006;e. C. Chang, 2001a;Peterson, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personality, Health, and Coping

Wong

Lee

Ang

et al. 2009

Cross-Cultural Research

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This study explored group and relational differences in personality, health, and coping across 189 Australian students and 243 Singaporean students. Life Orientation Test—Revised showed a one-factor structure for Australians but a two-factor structure for Singaporeans. Australians tended to be more agreeable, more conscientious, more optimistic, more satisfied with their lives, while Singaporeans tended to be more neurotic and more pessimistic. Singaporeans tended to utilize less frequent adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies. Neuroticism was a significant predictor for state-trait anxiety and stress, while unipolar optimism was a significant predictor for life satisfaction and unipolar pessimism was a significant predictor for trait anxiety for both samples. Bipolar optimism was a significant predictor for trait anxiety and life satisfaction for both samples whereas it was a significant predictor for state anxiety for the Singaporean sample. Optimists, pessimists, and neurotics in both samples tended to use different coping strategies. Limitations and implications are discussed.

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“…According to Peterson (2000), optimism is an inherent part of human nature that has made the growth of civilization possible, and so all contemporary cultures should possess a tendency to be generally optimistic. Nevertheless, Chang (2001) has shown that optimism and pessimism differ in Eastern and Western cultures. Peterson notes that desired outcomes are not universal; because cultures hold different primary goals and values, they are differentially optimistic about particular topics.…”

Section: Cultural Differences and Optimismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Variations in cultural values may result in differing assessments of environmental quality and optimism from nation to nation. As Chang (2001) asserts, "any model of optimism and pessimism that ignores the influence of culture is likely to be incomplete" (p. 276).…”

Section: Cultural Differences and Optimismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal pessimism and spatial optimism in environmental assessments: An 18-nation study

Gifford

Scannell

Kormos

et al. 2009

Journal of Environmental Psychology

268

190

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The personal assessments of the current and expected future state of the environment by 3232 community respondents in 18 nations were investigated at the local, national, and global spatial levels. These assessments were compared to a ranking of each country’s environmental quality by an expert panel. Temporal pessimism (“things will get worse”) was found in the assessments at all three spatial levels. Spatial optimism bias (“things are better here than there”) was found in the assessments of current environmental conditions in 15 of 18 countries, but not in the assessments of the future. All countries except one exhibited temporal pessimism, but significant differences between them were common. Evaluations of current environmental conditions also differed by country. Citizens’ assessments of current conditions, and the degree of comparative optimism, were strongly correlated with the expert panel’s assessments of national environmental quality. Aside from the value of understanding global trends in environmental assessments, the results have important implications for environmental policy and risk management strategies

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Cultural influences on optimism and pessimism: Differences in Western and Eastern construals of the self.

Abstract: To be uncertain is to be uncomfortable, but to be certain is to be ridiculous.-Chinese ProverbIn recent years, psychologists have joined anthropologists, sociologists, and linguists in recognizing the role of culture in shaping human behavior

Cited by 54 publications

References 28 publications

A Translation and Validation Study of the Life Orientation Test Revised in the Greek Speaking Population of Nurses among Three Hospitals in Athens and Ioannina

A Translation and Validation Study of the Life Orientation Test Revised in the Greek Speaking Population of Nurses among Three Hospitals in Athens and Ioannina

Personality, Health, and Coping

Temporal pessimism and spatial optimism in environmental assessments: An 18-nation study

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