OPTIMISM
Week of November 26, 2003

This week on The Infinite Mind: Optimism. We examine the art and science of “keeping your sunny side up.” Dr. Goodwin’s guests include Dr. Martin Seligman, of University of Pennsylvania, past president of the American Psychological Association, and world-leading authority on optimism (despite being a self-proclaimed pessimist). Dr. Seligman has conducted ground-breaking research into the human qualities that "allow people to rise to life's challenges, overcome adversity, resist illness and depression and lead happier, more successful lives." The Infinite Mind's Bill Lichtenstein chats with singer/songwriter Heather Eatman, who performs "Nothing is Stopping Me," an optimistic and lyrical tune from album, "Candy and Dirt." Dr. Goodwin speaks with psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who has extensively studied “flow” (or what athletes call being “in the zone”), those rare moments of wholeness or flow, when a person is completely involved with a sport or their art, in perfect control, without thinking, unaware of the passage of time. Dr. Goodwin is also joined by two experts in "applied optimism" (the study of how optimism fits in with all kinds of life events and activities), Dr. Lisa Aspinwall a psychologist at the University of Utah and Dr. Christopher Peterson is a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. And commentator John Hockenberry wonders what's so great about optimism? (“Reality, you see, bites, and optimism only helps us forget that,” he observes).

The program begins with Tim Strachan, who tells the story of the accident that made him a quaardriplegic, ending his career as a promising football quarterback. He talks about how he's turned his disability into an advantage. Strachan says he feels that perhaps as a quadriplegic he's helped more people than he would have if he were still a football player. He's since graduated from the University of Maryland and has coached football teams. He's now a law student at Georgetown University.

Next, host Dr Goodwin welcomes Dr. Martin Seligman, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, and immediate past president of the American Psychological Association. Seligman has conducted ground-breaking research into the human qualities that, as a recent book dedicated to him observes, "allow people to rise to life's challenges, overcome adversity, resist illness and depression and lead happier, more successful lives."

Seligman says that his research has shown that optimistic people surpass pessimists in three areas: they are better able to resist depression (clinical and general), they are better achievers (demonstrated in work, school and athletic performance) and they are generally more physically healthy. He talks about his research of team sports, and says that the manager of any given team appears to set the optimistic or pessimistic tone for the team which will determine its performance, especially in crunch situations.

Optimism can be measured in several ways, including a questionnaire or by listening to patterns of speech. By analyzing speech patterns, Seligman has studied all of the U.S. presidents, and found that Eisenhower, Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt were the most optimistic, while Franklin D. Roosevelt was the most pessimistic. More pessimistic presidents were more likely to be regarded as great leaders in retrospect, he says.

Seligman says that although optimism and pessimism generally remain constant throughout a person's life, they can be changed. He teaches the skill of disputing negative or catastrophic thoughts. Parents can help immunize their children against depression by teaching these skills at an early age, he says, a technique covered in his new book, The Optimistic Child.

To contact Dr. Seligman, email him at Seligman@psych.upenn.edu. To purchase Dr. Seligman's most recent book Authentic Happiness click here.

Next, The Infinite Mind's Bill Lichtenstein chats with Heather Eatman, who drops by with her band for a musical performance of "Nothing is Stopping Me," an optimistic and lyrical tune from album, "Candy and Dirt." She talks about the song, about her perspective on optimism, and about how her members experience with yoga makes her think that optimism does indeed have physical effects. Her latest cd is called Real. Click here to visit her website or order her albums.

Next up are two experts in what might be called "applied optimism," studying how optimism fits in with all kinds of life events and activities. Dr. Lisa Aspinwall is an associate professor of psychology at The University of Utah. Dr. Christopher Peterson is a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan.

So is it possible that optimists are just in denial about the negative things going on in life? Aspinwall says no, studies show that optimists are actually more able to perceive and integrate negative information, modifying their behavior to avoid danger, problems and risks.

Peterson talks about his studies of optimism at the racetrack. Pessimists, he found, were much more likely to make risky bets, and lose. Optimists came away the winners.

Goodwin and Aspinwall discuss what happens to optimists when bad things happen, and she observes that they tend to rebound quicker from ill fortune, including financial reversals and ill health. Heart patients are more likely to walk and return to work sooner, while breast cancer patients are better able to accept their surgery, she says. Peterson, who has extensively studied the relationship between optimism and overall health, says that pessimistic young people are less likely to grow into healthy adults, and more likely to die prematurely. Pessimists are also more likely to suffer traumatic accidents.

Aspinwall says there is research showing links between optimism and health immune functioning, which could account for some of these health impacts. But Peterson says he is more inclined to believe that behavior is the primary link. Pessimistic people are less likely to take care of themselves in a variety of ways, he has found. Aspinwall also observes that and notes that over time, this results in more cumulative stress for pessimists.

To learn more about Dr. Christopher Peterson visit his website. To learn more about Dr. Lisa Aspinwall visit her website.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, has extensively studied those rare moments of wholeness or flow, when a person is completely involved with a sport or their art, in perfect control, without thinking, unaware of the passage of time. Participants in Dr. Csikszentmihalyi's studies would wear watches that would emit randomly timed beeps, upon which they would write down what they were doing, and theirs level of concentration, happiness, and other variables. In one study, Dr. Csikszentmihalyi followed 1,000 teenagers for five years, collecting 50 - 60 snapshots a week of participant's lives.

What has he learned from 25 years of comprehensive study? People should seek out task that absorb them completely, that are challenging, yet not too far beyond their abilities. Adults who may regret not pursuing travel or a pastime in their youth they might dismiss as frivolous now should consider revisiting and exploring them. "For a few nights, write down what made you feel anxious or great, or bored, that day. Many people keep on doing things they don't like to do." The flow experience, Dr. Csikszentmihalyi clarifies, is not happiness, because the experience of happiness would itself distract from the total absorption of the flow. Yet a life in which the flow experience is common will tend to be a happier life. Dr. Csikszentmihalyi experienced flow himself during chess tournaments as a child, and while rock climbing later in life. Now, the applications of his theory of flow are being pursued by Swedish police organizations and Volvo auto factory unions. He can be reached at the Psychology Department of the University of Chicago, 5848 South University, Chicago, IL 60637. You may also order a copy of his book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience and Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life.

Next, John Hockenberry wonders what's so great about optimism? He says the idea that an optimistic attitude can benefit us is an overrated concept in the annals of overrated concepts. What about reality? he asks. Isn't life full of flaws? Reality, you see, bites, and optimism only helps us forget that.

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