Optimism & Its Dimensions
• 1) Time
• 2)  Personalization 
• 3) Pervasiveness
Dimension #2: Personalization
• Personalization: Assigning responsibility to
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positive or negative events that you experience.
Optimistic people take credit for positive events
and find a reason or blame something or
someone for negative events.
Pessimistic people give credit to others for
positive events and blame themselves for
negative events.
When positive events occur, take credit and
when negative events occur, find a reason other
than you for why this happened.
Optimal Thinking
• When positive events occur, take credit for it! Remember
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you are the one that is responsible for the fact that
positive event has occurred.
When something negative occurs, think of factors (other
then you) that are responsible for the situation.
Be careful not to do too much of this as then you may
lose the sense of reality… use this one with some
balance but for the purposes of this quizzes, do this all
the time.
You will notice some creative ways of thinking of why
negative events occur such as giving credit to someone
else. For example, if you lose in a sporting game; think
of it as the other team wanted it more.
Improving Your Score For Positive
Events – Example #1
• If you are presented with a question that states
“The project you are in charge of is a great
success…”
– Notice this is a positive thing.
• Remember positive events = you; negative
events ≠ you.
• The two choices provided to you are: a) I kept a
close watch over everyone’s work and b)
Everyone devoted a lot of time and energy to it.
– The more optimistic answer?
– A!
Improving Your Score For Positive
Events – Example #2
• If you are presented with a question which asks “Your
spouse (boyfriend/girlfriend) surprises you with a
gift…”
– Notice this is a positive thing.
• Remember positive events = you; negative events ≠
you.
• The two choices provided to you are: a) He/she just
got a raise at work and b) I took him/her out to a
special dinner the night before.
– The more optimistic answer?
– B!
Improving Your Score for Negative
Events – Example #1
• If you are presented with a question which asks
“You get lost driving to a friends house…”
– Notice this is a negative thing.
• Remember positive events = you and negative
events ≠ you.
• The two choices provided to you are: a) I
missed a turn and b) My boyfriend/girlfriend
gave me bad directions.
– The more optimistic answer?
– B! Since it deflects the blame onto your
boyfriend/girlfriend.
Improving Your Score For Negative
Events – Example #2
• If you are presented with a question which
states “You run for a community office position
and you lose…”
– Notice this is a negative thing.
• Remember positive events = you; negative
events ≠ you.
• The two choices provided to you are: a) I didn’t
campaign hard enough and b) The person who
won knew more people.
– The more optimistic answer?
– B!