I was trying to rationalize my inherent pessimistic behavior, and I wondered if nature were somehow responsible. I first looked up pessimism in the dictionary, which gave me this:
1 : an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the worst possible outcome 2a : the doctrine that reality is essentially evil b : the doctrine that evil overbalances happiness in life
Question 1: Is pessimism an evolutionary advantage?
I adhere to the first definition of pessimism, which I think also seems to fit paranoia. So in the natural world, animals (and early man) should be wary of unknown situations, otherwise they would suffer harm or death. Those animals that would be most pessimist/paranoid would perhaps survive longer than those complacent animals who didn’t predict that there was a lion in the grass. Now that I’m thinking about it, herd behavior would basically eliminate the need for a vigilant and paranoid animal. So I guess my question only applies to solitary animals.
Question 2: Do pessimists or optimists have more fun in life?
This one is all relative, so I don’t really expect an answer. Personal opinions are accepted. I guess the only support of pessimistic behavior is this witicism: Pessimists are always pleasently surprised.
I don’t see how some with the point of view define in #1 could defend this rationally. Sure, expecting the worst is all well and good - but always emphasizing the negative in things? What is the advantage in this?
The second belief, that reality is essentially ‘evil’, is quite different. Whether you agree or not with the outlook, it should be evident that I don’t have to look for the bad in things to believe this. For myself, I don’t really like the word ‘evil’ as it is to theologically charged, I prefer the simple expression ‘reality bites’.
To answer your questions:
#1: Perhaps. Some studies have shown that people who are described by associates as ‘pessimistic’, or who meet critera for moderate clinical depression have the most realistic appraisals of themselves, their relationships and their prospects. This would probably confer some reproductive advantage, but it would be hard to prove this one way or another.
#2: I don’t think so. Pessimistic people are probably more risk-averse, less likely to take the chances that could result in the most rewarding outcomes. Very optimistic people will remain so even if they continually lose - so that even someone divorced 4 times will believe that they are going to (or have) found ‘the one’ - whereas a pessimist would recognize the reality that they will probably never have a long-term, functional relationship. The pessimist will then insulate themselves from risk but the cost in ennui probably outways the lack of painful results…
Buck, the most concise version of your philosophy is " Expect the best, plan for the worse."
I saw the topic and was hoping against hope that SOMEONE had some insight on the matter. So I went ahead and read it. I can’t say I am dissappointed, I didn’t expect anything, really. I don’t know why I bothered, it wasn’t worth the risk. It was an evil post ,Buckshot. I was thinking maybe,just maybe,Coop would have something new to say. But you know, it was just what I had known all along. It’s hopeless, just hopelesss.
“Pardon me while I have a strange interlude.”-Marx
Oh, come on John, lighten up! There’s always a bright side, you know! Think about it this way, even if you haven’t learned anything new (and maybe you have, think about it!), you’ve at least gained further evidence for your theory, right? Right? Of course you have! Now, why don’t we go out to that lovely little mixer I heard about, and then you can just tell me all your troubles and the you’ll feel EVER so much better, don’t you think?
[/irritatingly optimisic mode]
Ah well. As to the OP. I doubt it really confers an evolutionary advantage since, taken to extremes, pessimism would probably lead to suicidal depression. Optimism wouldn’t be good in extreme, either, because that would basically lead to something like “Oh, the train won’t hit us.” So, as I believe is usual, the middle road probably leads to the greast returns per effort ratio.
I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail.
Yeah, in the partner of the pessimist. I was hooked up with someone for 2 1/2 years who always complained about everything. Give her a silver lining, and she’d find a cloud.
Referring to the OP, you seem to be anthroporomphizing a bit. Animals know nothing about pessimism/paranoia. These constructs are exclusively human, unless you are talking about the basic instinct or learned behavior of avoiding negative stimili. So, I wouldn’t look to the natural world to rationalize your particular personality traits.
Sure, some people are naturally pessimistic, and some are naturally optimistic. But the equation is not cut and dried. I consider myself an optimist in the extreme; but even I, in looking at certain societal/political issues, can be overwhelmed with pessimism.
Both pessimism and optimism have their uses, and it seems very game-theory like that we would evolve both of them at the same time. Optimists are generally very good at motivating people into action. Pessimists are generally very good at perfecting plans, because they notice all of the flaws. If you have a team of nothing but optimists, you are likely to get an over-ambitious project with lofty goals that never goes anywhere. If you have a team of nothing but pessimists, you are likely to get an under-ambitious project which is solid but uninspiring. By mixing the two, you get an ambitious project with solid implementation (and you probably achieve more than a bunch of middle-of-the-road people would have). I’m a pessimist at heart, but I recognize the contributions of my optimist colleagues.
And, as far as pessimism leading to depression: Wouldn’t being wrong all the time have a negative psychological impact on optimists?
I don’t know about any evolutionary advantage, but I can tell you why I’m a pessimist. If my negative expectations are wrong, I’m in for a pleasant surprise. If an optimist is wrong, he or she is likely to get a nasty shock. I much prefer pleasant surprises to nasty shocks.
There is only one difference between a madman and me. I am not a man.
Now, why don’t we go out to that lovely little mixer I heard about, and then you can just tell me all your troubles and the you’ll feel EVER so much better, don’t you think?