Defensive Pessimism

By Jeremy Shere

Posted August 25, 2021

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Y: So, Don, which do you think is more conducive to being healthy: being an optimist or a pessimist?

D: Hmm. I want to say optimist, Yaël, because there’s lots of evidence suggesting that optimism correlates with better health and well-being. But this sounds like a trick question …

Y: It’s not a trick, exactly. You’re right that being optimistic is generally good for well-being. But some types of pessimism may have health benefits, too.

D: Like what?

Y: First, let me make clear that I’m talking about something called “defensive pessimism.” It’s a type of pessimism that involves expecting the worst but using that expectation as motivation to take action to avoid a bad outcome.

D: OK. So, for example …

Y: Say you’re a student and have a big test coming up. If you’re a defensive pessimist and are anxious about failing, you use that anxiety as a catalyst to studying to make sure you don’t fail.

D: But what if you’re so anxious and gloomy that you don’t have faith that studying will help, and so you don’t study?

Y: Then you’re not a defensive pessimist. You’re just a pessimist, or perhaps depressed or anxious in a way that leads you to avoid taking action.

D: All right. But what does this have to do with health?

Y: Again, it’s about preparing to prevent negative outcomes. For example, when flu season rolls around, a defensive pessimist worried about getting the flu may harness that worry to take preventive action, like frequently washing their hands and seeking care when they notice symptoms.

D: So pessimism can benefit health as long as you use it to motivate yourself to do things that promote health.

Y: Precisely.

A colorful line of glasses halfway filled with liquid

There can be some health benefits to seeing the glass as "half full." (Yasmeen / flickr)

Which do you think is more conducive to being healthy: being an optimist or a pessimist?

There’s lots of evidence suggesting that optimism correlates with better health and well-being. But some types of pessimism may have health benefits, too.

First, lets make it clear that we're talking about something called “defensive pessimism.” It’s a type of pessimism that involves expecting the worst but using that expectation as motivation to take action to avoid a bad outcome.

So, for example, you’re a student and have a big test coming up. If you’re a defensive pessimist and are anxious about failing, you use that anxiety as a catalyst to studying to make sure you don’t fail.

But what if you’re so anxious and gloomy that you don’t have faith that studying will help, and so you don’t study? Then you’re not a defensive pessimist. You’re just a pessimist, or perhaps depressed or anxious in a way that leads you to avoid taking action.

But what does this have to do with health?

It’s about preparing to prevent negative outcomes. For example, when flu season rolls around, a defensive pessimist worried about getting the flu may harness that worry to take preventive action, like frequently washing their hands and seeking care when they notice symptoms.

So pessimism can benefit health as long as you use it to motivate yourself to do things that promote health.

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