Pirtûka "Destpêka Psîkolojiyê". Nivîskar - RL Atkinson, RS Atkinson, EE Smith, DJ Boehm, S. Nolen-Hoeksema. Di bin edîtoriya giştî ya VP Zinchenko. Çapa navneteweyî ya 15th, St. Petersburg, Prime Eurosign, 2007.
Gotar ji beşa 14. Stres, rûbirûbûn û tenduristî
Written by Shelley Taylor, University of California
Is unrealistic optimism bad for your health? At first glance, it seems that it should be harmful. After all, if people believe they are relatively immune to problems ranging from tooth decay to heart disease, shouldn’t that be a barrier to a healthy lifestyle? Enough evidence indicates that most people are indeed unrealistically optimistic about their health. But no matter what, unrealistic optimism appears to be good for your health.
Consider healthy habits such as wearing seat belts, exercising, and not smoking or drinking alcohol. Instead of weakening such habits, as one might think, unrealistic optimism can actually lead to a healthy lifestyle. Aspinwall and Brunhart (1996) found that people with optimistic expectations about their health actually paid more attention to information about a possible personal threat to their lives than pessimists. Apparently, this is because they want to prevent these dangers. People may be optimistic about their health precisely because they have healthier habits than pessimists (Armor Si Taylor, 1998).
Perhaps the most compelling evidence for the health benefits of unrealistic optimism comes from studies done on homosexuals infected with HIV. One study found that men who are overly optimistic about their ability to protect themselves from AIDS (for example, believing that their bodies can get rid of the virus) are more likely to live a healthy lifestyle than less optimistic men (Taylor et al., 1992). Reed, Kemeny, Taylor, Wang, and Visscher (1994) found that men with AIDS who were recklessly believing in an optimistic outcome, as opposed to being realists, experienced a 9-month increase in life expectancy. In a similar study, Richard Schulz (Schulz et al., 1994) found that pessimistic cancer patients die earlier than more optimistic patients.
Optimists seem to recover faster. Leedham, Meyerowitz, Muirhead & Frist (1995) found that optimistic expectations among heart transplant patients are associated with better mood, higher quality of life, and disease adjustment. Similar results were presented by Scheier and his colleagues (Scheier et al., 1989), who studied the adaptation of patients after coronary bypass surgery. What explains such results?
Optimism is associated with good coping strategies and healthy habits. Optimists are active people who try to solve problems rather than avoid them (Scheier & Carver, 1992). In addition, optimists are more successful in interpersonal relationships, and therefore it is easier for them to get support from people. This support helps reduce the likelihood of illness and promotes recovery. Optimists can use these resources to deal with stress and illness.
Scientists now understand that optimism can create or be associated with a physical state conducive to health or speedy recovery. Susan Segerstrom and colleagues (Segerstrom, Taylor, Kemeny & Fahey, 1998) studied a group of law students who were under severe academic stress during their first semester in law school. They found that optimistic students had an immunological profile that was more resistant to disease and infection. Other studies have shown similar results (Bower, Kemeny, Taylor & Fahey, 1998).
Why do some people think optimism is bad for health? Some researchers blame unrealistic optimism as a source of health risk without evidence. For example, while smokers appear to underestimate their risk of getting lung cancer, there is no evidence that unrealistic optimism drives them to use tobacco or explains their continued smoking. Indeed, smokers are well aware that they are more vulnerable to lung problems than non-smokers.
Does this mean that unrealistic optimism is always good for your health or good for all people? Seymour Epstein and colleagues (Epstein & Meier, 1989) point out that most optimists are «constructive optimists» who are actively trying to protect their own health and safety. But some optimists are «naive optimists» who believe that everything will work itself out without any active participation on their part. If some optimists are at risk because of their unhealthy habits, they probably belong to the latter of these two groups.
Before you dismiss unrealistic optimism as a condition that blinds people to the real risks we face, consider its benefits: it makes people happier, healthier, and, when sick, improves their chances of recovery.
Xetereyên Optimîzma Nerealîst
Ma hûn ji mirovên din zêdetir an kêmtir mêldarê alkolê ne? Derbarê şansên we yên ku hûn bi nexweşiyek veguheztinek cinsî an jî krîza dil derbas bibin? Ne pir kesên ku ji van pirsan têne pirsîn qebûl dikin ku xwedan rêjeyek xeternak a navînî ye. Bi gelemperî, 50-70% ji kesên lêkolînkirî dibêjin ku ew di bin xetera navîn de ne, 30-50% din dibêjin ku ew di xetereya navîn de ne, û kêmtir ji 10% dibêjin ku ew di xetera navînî de ne. Binêre →
Chapter 15
Di vê beşê de em ê li çîrokên hin kesên ku tûşî nexweşiyên derûnî yên giran dibin, binihêrin, û li ser nexweşên takekesî yên ku şêwazek jiyanek ku kesayetiya wan xera dike bisekine. Binêre →