The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad events will last a long time, will undermine everything they do, and are their own fault.
Psychologists
Martin Seligman
U.S. psychologist (b.1942). Discovered learned helplessness in 1967, founded positive psychology as 1998 APA president, and proposed the PERMA model. His role in the CIA Enhanced Interrogation case is a noted dispute.
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Martin Seligman's Other Quotes
Learned helplessness is the giving-up reaction, the quitting response that follows from the belief that whatever you do doesn't matter.
Optimism is invaluable for the meaningful life. With a firm belief in a positive future, you can throw yourself into the service of that which is larger than you are.
Well-being cannot exist just in your own head; well-being is a combination of feeling good as well as actually having meaning, good relationships and accomplishment.
The good life consists in deriving happiness by using your signature strengths every day in the main realms of living.
Related Quotes
Learned helplessness is the giving-up reaction, the quitting response that follows from the belief that whatever you do doesn't matter.
-- Martin Seligman
We are now living in a new world. An end has been put to the Cold War and the arms race, as well as to the mad militarisation of our country, which crippled our economy.
-- Mikhail Gorbachev