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Pessimism is a tendency to concentrate on the negative aspects of things such as risks, issues and faults. The following are illustrative examples.While pessimism is often portrayed as a personality trait, it can also be a purposeful strategy. For example, defensive pessimism is the process of reviewing a strategy, decision, design, plan, state, action or outcome as critically as possible in order to identify issues and risk. This may be coupled with extremely optimistic processes such as freely brainstorming ideas without restraint. This allows for brave ideas to surface and to be hardened through a process of critical validation.
Risk aversion is a low risk tolerance or a tendency to reach high estimates for risk probability and impact. This is associated with either a conservative or a pessimistic viewpoint or approach. For example, a pessimist may be unlikely to invest in brash startup companies that make brave predictions of the future as they may see many risks to such plans.
A tendency to seek or focus on negative information. For example, seeing people's faults above their character strengths and charms.Rosy RetrospectionRosy retrospection is a tendency to view the past as better than you perceived it at the time. This is associated with the common pessimistic view that things are always getting worse.
Resistance to change is a preference for stability such that you resist any changes perceived as a threat to the status quo.Defeatism is when pessimism becomes a problem such that it interferes with performance. For example, an employee who is disinterested, low energy and unproductive because they feel that failure is inevitable. This may obstruct the work of others and bring down the morale of an entire team.|
| Type | | | Definition | A tendency to concentrate on the negative aspects of things such as risks, issues and faults. | | Related Concepts | |
Thinking
This is the complete list of articles we have written about thinking.
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A list of thinking approaches and types.
A few logic terms explained.
A list of common cognitive biases explained.
A few dangers of being too abstract.
The difference between objective and subjective.
A definition of intellectual diversity with examples.
The definition of creative value with examples.
The definition of anecdotal evidence with examples.
The definition of benefit of doubt with examples.
Rational thought is often somewhat logical but includes factors such as emotion, imagination, culture, language and social conventions.
The definition of intrapersonal with examples.
The definition of introspection with examples.
The definition of paradox with examples.
The definition of abstract concept with examples.
An overview of logical arguments with examples.
The definition of rational choice theory with examples.
The definition of reflective thinking with examples.
The definition of reason with examples.
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