Module 3Explanatory Style &

Putting It In Perspective

ECE College Program Curriculum

3

Beliefs Involved in Resilient Thinking

Optimism vs. Pessimism

Self-efficacy vs. Helplessness

HardinessControlCommitmentChallenge

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Optimism & Resilience

Hopeful outlook

Capable rather than helpless

Better adjustment to stress & negative eventsLower risk of anxiety & depressionBetter physical health

5

Self Efficacy & Resilience

Beliefs about:our ability to cope resources available

Predict feelings & behaviour

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3 C’s of Hardiness

Commitment Resilient people believe what they do is important

Control Resilient people believe they can influence outcomes

Challenge Resilient people consider a demand to be a challenge

rather than a threatKobasa, S.C., Maddi, S. R., Puccetti, M.C. & Zola, M.A. 1985. Effectiveness of hardiness, exercise and social support resources against illness. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 29, 525-533.

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Explanations of Negative Events

Negative explanatory style is related to:

Lower gradesLower immune system functioningMore visits to doctorsPoor health in middle & late adulthoodDepression

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Dimensions of Explanatory Style

Personalization Who is to blame?

Permanence How long will it last?

Pervasiveness How much of my life will be affected?

Seligman, M. E. P., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L. & Gillham, J. 1995. The Optimistic Child. New York: Harper Perennial.

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Elements of a Negative Explanatory Style

Belief that blame rests squarely on some personal characteristic of oneself

Belief that problems are long-lasting

Belief that problems affect all aspects of one’s life

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Accurate & Flexible Explanations

Take into account possibility of multiple causes

Assess problems as temporary

Understand that problems affect only some areas of one’s life

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Why Do We Develop Inaccurate Thinking Habits?

Humans seem compelled to explain the world around them

Often we do not have complete information

Number of explanations is high

We develop short cuts in our thinking

12

Development of a Negative Explanatory Style

Biological influences

Parenting style – modeling

Attachment relationships

Predictability of early childhood environments

13

Increasing the Accuracy of Our Explanations

Ask three questions:

1. Who is to blame? Consider multiple causes

2. How long will it last? Be realistic, consider your capacity to adjust

3. How much of my life will be affected? Think about areas of your life that will be affected

the leastSeligman, M. E. P., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L. & Gillham, J. 1995. The Optimistic Child. New York: Harper Perennial.

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Putting it In Perspective

Seligman’s Six Questions:

1. What is the worst thing that can happen?

2. What is one thing I can do to help stop the worst thing from happening?

3. What is the best thing that can happen?

4. What is one thing I can do to make the best thing happen?

5. What is the most likely thing that will happen?

6. What can I do to handle the most likely thing if it happens?

Seligman, M. E. P., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L. & Gillham, J. 1995. The Optimistic Child. New York: Harper Perennial.