Optimism / Pessimism
Attitude Factors


Time Factor
Explanations can be permanent or temporary.
Examples: always, sometime, this time, never, occasionally


Space Factor
Explanations can be pervasive or specific.
Examples: all, none, this, that,


Cause Factor
Explanations can be personal or impersonal.
Examples: I, me, you, it, us, we, they, them


Optimism about bad events means the explanations will be temporary, specific, and impersonal.
Pessimism about bad events means the explanations will be permanent, pervasive, and personal. (Note: the opposite is true for good events.)




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