Throughout history great minds have wondered how individuals differed, and why they acted in particular ways. Traits are defined as non-ending dimensions of personality on which people vary (Carver, C., & Scheier M. 2012). Once traits were established they were researched and investigated for their own unique and credible differences from other traits. One interesting trait that has been extensively researched is optimism. From the great lyrical workings of Voltaire, whose stances were those of fact and intellectualized conclusions, to the life changing writings of Eleanor Porter, optimism as a trait was a unique and complex concept. In Voltaire’s writings there were glimpses of “non-rational thoughts among rational arguments” (Rockett, K. 1944). This non-rational tendency is still a subject of argument when Voltaire is argued as a pessimistic man or an optimistic one. There is also discussion of Voltaire’s attempt to avoid a completely pessimistic conclusion he goes away from his entirely logical statements and mysteriously adopts this line of reasoning that in all other instances he would be quick to reject (Rockett, K. 1944). It appears that Voltaire is seemingly trying to avoid all despair, and trying to evolve to some form of rationalization, which appears in the answer of faith and God as an alternative to complete and utter evil In the writing of Eleanor Porter surrounding Pollyanna, and her “Power in Positive Thinking”, optimism is not directly addressed, but its basic components and beginnings are introduced. Through her ingenious “Glad Game” she is able to find the good in almost anything, be it person or situation. This book was the first of its kind to discuss this subject, a small orphan being glad regardless of the s...
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Optimism could be considered a condition of the mind that makes one believe that the best things will always happen to them. A common idiom used to illustrate optimism versus pessimism is a glass with water at the halfway point, where the optimist is said to see the glass as half full, but the pessimist sees the glass as half empty. Optimists tend to see adversity as temporary; more specifically they view the obstacle as limited to the situation and not generalized. 1) How does the personality trait
his strong points and his weaknesses. What distinguished them f rom common mortals is their ability to appreciate their strong and weak areas. They then capitalized on their strength and shunned their weaknesses. Through training, practice and a positive attitude to improve oneself. AIM 2. The aim of this study is to discuss the role and contribution of military leaders generally towards the development for the country. What makes a country developed are variously defined, however this paper will