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Social Cognition, Vol. 7, No. 2, 1989, pp. 92-1 12
NANCY CANTOR
University ot Michigan JULIE K. NOREM
Northeastern University
Extensive research supports the contention that an optimistic orientation may contribute to more effective coping with stressful life events than will pessimism
(Scheier & Carver, 1 985; Taylor & Brown, 1 988). However, there is also evidence
indicating that a strategy called defensive pessimism can be an effective way of coping with anxiety and motivating performance (Norem & Cantor, 1986a,b).
Data from a longitudinal field study of Honors college students at the University of Michigan converge with previous experimental results in demonstrating the
potential effectiveness of defensive pessimism within achievement domains. Lon
gitudinal data from this study also indicate, however, that use of defensive pessimism within the achievement domain can have implications (or "side effects") for the
structure of activities, social interaction, and mood within and beyond that domain.
Discussion centers on the importance of understanding the potential costs and
benefits of both optimism and defensive pessimism as a function of particular goals and specific situations. From this perspective, an individual's capacity to
respond flexibly to situations may be a crucial aspect of his or her ability to cope with a variety of potential stressors. Viewing optimism and pessimism as strategies that individuals may potentially select for specific situations leads to an emphasis
on the process of coping over time and the potential for adjustment and change. Prevailing wisdom and
a great deal of experimental and field data support the benefits of personal optimism in coping with stressful life events (Scheier & Carver, 1985). In fact, several theorists have argued
The research and preparation of this article supported in part by grants from the
National Science Foundation (BNS84-11778 and BNS87-18467); portions of these data
have been previously reported in the junior author's dissertation (Norem, 1987), and
in paper presented at the Meetings of the American Psychological Association, 1987,
New York. We very much appreciate the technical assistance of Nancy G. Exelby and
comments earlier drafts of the paper provided by Leslie Clark, Charles Carver, and anonymous reviewer, and by colleagues Christopher Langston, Hazel Markus,
and Sabrina Zirkel.
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DEFENSIVE PESSIMISM AND STRESS
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DEFENSIVE PESSIMISM AND STRESS AND COPING 93
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