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Recent theoretical discussions of optimism as an inherent aspect of human nature converge with empirical investigations of optimism as an individual difference to show that optimism can be a highly beneficial psychological characteristic linked to good mood, perseverance, achievement, and physical health. Questions remain about optimism as a research topic and more generally as a societal value. Is the meaning of optimism richer than its current conceptualization in cognitive terms? Are optimism and pessimism mutually exclusive? What is the relationship between optimism and reality, and what are the costs of optimistic beliefs that prove to be wrong? How can optimism be cultivated? How does optimism play itself out across different cultures? Optimism promises to be one of the important topics of interest to positive social science, as long as it is approached in an even-handed way.

Over the years, optimism has had at best a checkered reputation. From Voltaire’s (1759) Dr. Pangloss, who blathered that we live in the best of all possible worlds, to Porter’s (1913) Pollyanna, who celebrated every misfortune befalling herself and others, to politicians who compete vigorously to see who can best spin embarrassing news into something wonderful, so-called optimism has often given thoughtful people pause. Connotations of naivete and denial have adhered to the notion. In recent years, however, optimism has become a more respectable stance, even among the sophisticated.

Research by a number of psychologists has documented diverse benefits of optimism and concomitant drawbacks of pessimism. Optimism, conceptualized and assessed in a variety of ways, has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to perseverance and effective problem solving; to academic, athletic, military, occupational, and political success; to popularity; to good health; and even to long life and freedom from trauma. Pessimism, in contrast, foreshadows depression, passivity, failure, social estrangement, morbidity, and mortality. These lines of research are surprisingly uniform, so much so that an optimism bandwagon has been created, within psychology as well as the general public (