Positive Psychology: Optimism and Personal Development

This assignment discusses the concept of optimism in psychology and the importance of personal development. It includes a self-assessment and an intervention plan for personal development.

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Running head: POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 1
Write your title here
Write your name here
Griffith University
Student Number: Write your student number here
Course: 1010PSY Positive Psychology
Tutor: Write your tutor’s name here
Tutorial: Write your tutorial class day and time here
Due Date: 1st Aug, 2018
Date Submitted: Write the date your submitted your assignment here
Word Count: Write your word count here

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2
Positive Psychology
Section 1: In the field of psychology, the term optimism is a commonly used term and this
means a general tendency of the people to expect the positive outcomes. Dispositional
optimism refers to the stable individual differences that are influenced by the interaction
between the genetics and the environment. The dispositional optimism results from the
positive outcomes, personal relationships, performance, motivation and better mental and
physical health (Carver & Scheier, 2014).
Section 2: I have chosen optimism because it is strongly associated with a person’s behaviour
and reaction. It is also in strong coherence with me because I took learned optimism test
which provides a score based on my personal responses. From the test that I have undertaken,
I have found that I am thinking in a quite pessimistic way and this is hampering my daily life,
my confidence as well as my behaviour. According to the assessment tool, I have found that I
have a moderately low self-esteem, moderately hopeless, I think in a pessimistic way,
moderately pessimistic and I am crying out for help (appendix). Thus, the above-mentioned
results from the assessment tool, I can say being a pessimist I need a have a positive outlook
towards and towards my attitude. I can say that there are several reasons why I scored badly
on this assessment tool. The reason being that I have a lot of my thinking obsessed with
things that do not require much attention. Consciously, I keep on thinking of instances that I
cannot control and I frequently overthink. I lose my temper quite easily and I have very little
control over my anger.

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 3
Section 3: The intervention plan that is have selected is that I focus my energy and my
thinking on the personal development. Personal development is the best way to improve and
enhance my qualities which I can use for my self-build-up (Beausaert et al., 2013). I will
implement the plan by having a 6-month time period where I will develop myself as per my
needs (table 1). I will take the different assessment tool and self-assess myself after the 6
months and this will be helpful in my self-assessment. The intervention plan will be effective
because self-development and improvement alone is the best way to change the perspectives
of a person (Pais & Santos, 2014).
Table 1: Gannt chart on personal development
January February March April May June
Reading Self-
help books
Anger
management
classes
Personality
development
classes

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 4
References
Beausaert, S., Segers, M., Fouarge, D., & Gijselaers, W. (2013). Effect of using a personal
development plan on learning and development. Journal of Workplace Learning,
25(3), 145-158.
Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (2014). Dispositional optimism. Trends in cognitive sciences,
18(6), 293-299.
Pais, L., & Santos, N. R. D. (2014). Knowledge‐sharing, cooperation, and personal
development. The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of the Psychology of Training,
Development, and Performance Improvement, 278-302.

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 5
Appendix
Learned optimism test score

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 6