Optimist vs Pessimist

The Oxford English dictionary defines optimism as 1. hopefulness and confidence about the future or success of something, 2. the doctrine that this world is the best of all possible worlds. Pessimism on the other hand, is defined as 1. lack of hope or confidence in the future, 2. a belief that this world is as bad as it could be or that evil will ultimately prevail over good

It is often said that an optimistic attitude is slightly dangerous.
This is because you are more likely to underestimate the potential for danger due to a too blithe and lackadaisical attitude that all will be well.

Pessimists, on the other hand, tend to be fatalistic.
Everything is viewed as a disaster.

If their boss is angry, they imagine that their job is on the line, and they'll get to hear the bad news real soon. They see that they have little control. They don't think they can effect change, so they take the passive role. They see no benefit in either trying nor minimizing risk. They ascribe good and bad things entirely to chance

Optimists tend to view problems as only temporary and restricted to only a certain set of circumstances. They believe they can effect a change if they tried.

Psychologist Martin EP Seligman explains that pessimists tend to be cursed by the 3 P's permanent, pervasive and personal.

1. Permanent
Pessimists can't see a way out.
They feel helpless and incapable of changing their situation and are wrapped in their own misery and gloom.
Listen to the pessimist speak: " I'm doomed!", "We're ruined", "All is lost!", "There's no way out!"
Optimists on the other hand, see it as temporary and will make attempts to effect changes.

2. Pervasive
Pessimists magnify the situation and see the damage as pervasive.
Optimists on the other hand, exercise damage control- they confine the problem within its borders and refocus on the things that are working.

3. Personal
Pessimists take problems personally.
The blame either themselves or someone else.
Self recriminating thoughts often occur like " I shouldn't have done this. " This would never have happened if …."
Optimists see themselves as personally involved but they don't own every problem.
They deal in the realities of what they have power over and stand aloof from those they do not