WJXT: Be defensive! How Pessimism can be helpful

Be defensive! Pessimism can be an effective motivator when we are faced with feeling a sense of fear or panic because it prompts us to take action about something we are worried about. Researchers called this idea "defensive pessimism" because it prompts us to be proactive.

FULL CLIP ON RIVER CITY LIVE TV NEWS4JAX

Researchers call this idea “defensive pessimism” because it encourages us to be proactive. Optimism and pessimism are not fixed points of view but are mind-sets that we adopt as needed - rose- or blue-tinted glasses - that we put on and take off depending on the situation.