Optimism/ Pessimism, genetics or choice?

Question

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
—Sir Winston Churchill

Answer 1

I like your quote.

I think Optimism/ Pessimism comes from both nature and nurture.

Some are born optimistic/ pessimistic genetically while others aren't. Some are born optimistic but was nurtured by pessimistic parents, so s/he becomes pessimistic; and vice versa.

In Chinese, there's one saying... I'm not quite sure how to translate it... but it's something similar to this: when you hang around with bad guys, you become bad; when you hang around with good guys, you become good. Basically, you absorb whatever that's surrounding you.

Answer 2

The optimist sees the donut and the pessimist sees the hole! Genetics is half of you and choices is the other half; the problem is that our choices is also partially controlled by brainwashing from parents, teachers, and peers! Optimism and Pessimism are really two sides of the same coin - just a different slant of looking at the same thing. Half full or half empty? Heck, all of life is one big compromise and it is next to impossible to be a 100% Optimist anyway.

Answer 3

Niether. It is about life experiences. I, for one, would rather be pessimistic and never be disappointed when things turn out badly. Optimists are setting themselves up for dissapointment if something goes poorly.

Answer 4

I see it as a choice and the way you choose to look at something, we're not exactly born with some pessemistic or optemistic genes in our bodies.

Answer 5

I hate these "nurture or nature" discussions.
The only thing is; evidence sugests...and fill in anything.

I am both. Hope for the best but expect the worst. My mother taught me that and me being like my father makes it easy for me to adopt.

Answer 6

easily some each body is clearly positive and pessimistic, yet i think we've some decision contained in the remember. evaluate the idea of cognitive remedy, which aims to change some pessimistic beliefs with positive ones.

Answer 7

No, it is not genetics unless someone is mentally retarded or sg!
It depends more on upbringing, on earlier childhood experience, on adult life experience... and on mentality.....

Answer 8

i believe it has to do with genitics cause i wasnt raised with my family but we are all negative thinkers , never see the good in anything , cause we cant help it

Answer 9

nothing to do w/ genetics... its choice through elnightenment..