Here is the Learned Optimism Test.
The results are vague unless you read/listen to the book "Learned Optimism" by Martin Seligman, or see my interpretation below.
Take the Test First, Then Come Back and Read the Interpretation Below. For this Optimism test, you want to score high on the Good, and low on the Bad shown below.
But first, take the Learned Optimism Test. It takes about 15 minutes to complete.
Now that you have finished your test, let’s look at the criteria.
There are three categories that determine optimism. Permanence, Pervasiveness and Personalization
Permanence and Pervasiveness affect what you do, Personalization affects how you feel. Seligman says that Personalization is less important that the former two.
What the Scores Mean
Permanence Bad Score: How permanent you think bad things are
Permanence Good Score: How permanent you think good things are
Pervasiveness Bad Score: How pervasive you think bad things are.
Pervasiveness Good Score: How pervasive you think good things are
Stuff Of Hope: The sum of you above Bad Scores (lower is better)
Personalization Bad Score: How personally you internalize bad things.
Personalization Good Score: How personally you internalize good things
Total Bad Score: Sum of Bad scores above
Total Good Score: Sum of Good scores above
Good Minus Bad Score: Overall Optimism Score
Here are my results with my interpretation below:
I scored very low (good) on Permanence Bad & Pervasiveness Bad. This resulted in a high hope score. It means that my explanatory style can find a positive way to interpret negative events as localized and temporary.
Unfortunately my Permanence Good & Pervasiveness Good score was also low. This means I see positive events as localized and temporary too!
For example I think to myself, “that person liked me”, not “I am a likable person”.
Another way to put it, I am pessimistic about good events, but optimistic about negative events when they happen.
My personalization Bad Score was high, meaning I might be taking too much personal responsibility for negative events, causing low self-esteem. For example if someone is in a bad mood or being a jerk, I will think I did something wrong.
My personalization Good Score was moderate, meaning I could take more credit for the good events in my life.
I found these results very thought provoking and I am going to try and adopt these beliefs:
· Good things can be permanent or long lasting
· Good things can be pervasive, universal, spreading and growing, touching every area of my life
· I am going to try and take personal responsibility and credit for the Good things that happen in my life
· I will try to externalize responsibility for bad things, and realize that I am not the cause of them
· I will allow myself to think highly of myself, and not be afraid to think highly of myself
Here is the Affiliate Link to Martin Seligman’s wonderful little book “Learned Optimism” on Audible, Kindle and Amazon
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