Author Archives: knlistman

Does pessimism shorten or lengthen your life?

Posted on June 2, 2015 by knlistman

Frequently I have read anecdotal accounts of people who were sure that they were going to beat a life threatening disease (usually cancer) against the odds and managed to do so. Often they would give credit to their optimistic attitude that … Continue reading →

Posted in Optimism and Pessimism | Tagged age, disability, Pessimism, poor health | 2 Comments

How well do you know yourself?

Posted on May 26, 2015 by knlistman

High self awareness may not be a pleasant characteristic to have. There are other names given to this trait, such as private self-consciousness. Stephen Franzoi of the University of California at Davis has studied the effects of private self-consciousness and found … Continue reading →

Posted in Mental health, Optimism and Pessimism | Tagged intrapersonal intelligence, persistence, Self-esteem | Leave a comment

The problem with positive pep talks

Posted on May 20, 2015 by knlistman

After centuries of philosophers, and in more recent times psychologists, coming up their own set of personality factors a symposium in the 1980s settled on what are called the “big five” which are commonly found in most summaries of personality traits. Four of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Mental health, Optimism and Pessimism, Psychology | Leave a comment

Destined for optimism?

Posted on May 4, 2015 by knlistman

There has been an academic debate going on between psychologists since Shelly Taylor published Positive Illusions asserting that the normal mentally healthy person holds on to optimistic illusions. Are most humans not realistic in their view of themselves and the their … Continue reading →

Posted in Education trends, Mental health, Optimism and Pessimism | Tagged Charles S Carver, J. D Brown, Positive Illusions, Shelly Taylor, Tali Sharot, The science of optimism | Leave a comment

You can dream it, but you will probably never do it.

Posted on April 25, 2015 by knlistman

How many times have you heard “if you can dream it, you can do it?” Well evidently if you can dream it you consider yourself happier, even if you never get around to doing it. And you are also similar … Continue reading →

Posted in Optimism and Pessimism, Psychology, Self confidence | Tagged believing illusion, high self esteem, Jonathon Brown, optimism, positive mental attitude, Shelly Taylor | Leave a comment

The prejudice against pessimism

Posted on April 16, 2015 by knlistman

You would think that having an accurate view of yourself, your situation and others around you would contribute to mental health. Well-adjusted humans are supposed to see the world realistically, and believing illusions is considered a hallmark of mental illness. … Continue reading →

Posted in Group psychology, Leadership, Manipulation, Persuasion | Leave a comment

Faking funny

Posted on April 9, 2015 by knlistman

Everybody loves the sound of laughter don’t they? The muffled giggle, the high pitch twitter, the polished chuckle, the wheezing chortle, and the deep belly laugh can all be taken differently depending on who is uttering the sound. Real involuntary … Continue reading →

Posted in Group psychology, Laughter and humor, Persuasion | Tagged animals laughing, fake laughter, Greg bryant | Leave a comment

No one wants to laugh alone

Posted on April 1, 2015 by knlistman

Just beyond the door of my office a photographer was setting up a lights. He was also chatting with everyone who passed by. Finally he got down to the business of spreading out the tripods that held the lights. Then, … Continue reading →

Posted in Group psychology, Laughter and humor | Leave a comment

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