Learned Optimism Test

[C is for]

Here is a questionnaire that tests your optimism.

I am very pessimistic.

What about the rest of you?

(I almost want to take it again when I haven't just learned I'm in big trouble at work, just to see if my mood makes a difference. I don't think it will.)

[bobtheenchantedone]

Hmm. It says I am very pessimistic, but I consider myself to be rather optimistic.

[NerdGirl]

It says I am very optimistic, which doesn't surprise me very much.

[Unit of Energy]

It said I am Moderately Pessimistic, which somewhat makes sense. Although I doubt any one I know would describe as pessimistic, as they pretty much are always telling me how happy I always am. It is quite annoying.

[Darth Fedora]

Moderately optimistic. Not surprised.

[Indefinite Integral]

It said I am very pessismistic. I'm wondering what all the subscores mean. It told me my "Total Bad Score" was moderately optimistic and my "Total Good Score" was great pessimism.

Ok, I read up on it a bit and apparently I'm optimistic when it comes to bad things happening in my life but extremely pessimistic about good things. What does that say about me? Anyone else look at their subscores more in-depth?

[Indefinite Integral]

Oh, and you can check out this outline to read a bit about the subscore areas.

[thebigcheese]

Gosh, some of these subscore descriptions sound rather harsh... Apparently, I am:

"Moderately Pessimistic"
"Moderately Hopeless"
"Moderately Low Self-Esteem"
"Crying Out For Change"

Which all totals up to "Very Pessimistic" in the end. Not sure if I agree...

[Tao]

Claims I'm moderately pessimistic. But I don't believe it. These things are never right

[Gimgimno]

Moderately pessimistic?! LIKE HECK I'M MODERATELY PESSIMISTIC. Very low self-esteem? I ASSURE YOU THAT MY HEAD IS RATHER INFLATED.

I SAY THAT THIS QUIZ CAN ROT IN THE BAD PLACE IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN

[Hypatia]

Don't fret, Gim. I got "very pessimistic" and "moderately low self-esteem." We can chill together in our own personal morose pity parties.

[bobtheenchantedone]

thebigcheese, you sound exactly like me. That's exactly what I got on the test.

[C is for]

The friend that initially linked me to this test and I spent a little while figuring out what makes you win (if being optimistic is winning). As far as the test went, blaming other people for bad things and taking credit for good things makes you more optimistic.

Optimistic people can't avoid sugar, it's in everything!

[bobtheenchantedone]

Whaaa? Blaming other people for bad things makes you optimistic? I beg to differ.

[Unit of Energy]

I'm sure there must be a better test out there. The English of this one wasn't that great, and while I tend to be more realistic than some people, I don't think that qualifies as pessimism. Also blaming others is a sign of irresponsibility, not optimism.

[wryness]

Yeah; that sounds kind of off. Self-centeredness (or just being plain out of touch with reality) does not equal optimism.

I got a total score of "very pessimistic" as well. I think there are some definite flaws to this test. Sometimes I thought both options were equally acceptable (like in #44; if I didn't know much about the business climate, I would make poor choices in stocks. I don't think those are mutually exclusive).

I think I am definitely pessimistic in many ways (I'm often quick to assume that something is my fault when it might not be), but I don't think I'm THAT pessimistic; goodness.

[thebigcheese]

As far as the test went, blaming other people for bad things and taking credit for good things makes you more optimistic.

That sounds more like a jerk to me.

[C is for]

As far as the test went, blaming other people for bad things and taking credit for good things makes you more optimistic.

That sounds more like a jerk to me.

But here's the thing: the people here that got "optimistic" don't strike me as jerks. Maybe we are all really pessimistic -- but with great outlooks on life.

[Darth Fedora]

As far as the test went, blaming other people for bad things and taking credit for good things makes you more optimistic.

That sounds more like a jerk to me.

It sounds jerkish, but thinking about things that way makes you super happy and resilient to disappointment and failure. When good things happen to you, it's because you're awesome and smart and popular! It's because you're a good person with good personality traits who deserves good things! When bad things happen, it's not automatically someone else's fault. It could totally be your fault, but it's not because you're a bad person--it's because you made one mistake, or you didn't work hard enough that one time. You definitely still accept the blame that's yours, but you don't let it get to you because it reflects aberrant mistakes that you made, rather than a fundamental flaw in your personality.

[Dragon Lady]

I just wrote my answer to this. Turns out I'd had it open too long and it made me sign back in which then deleted my answer. LAME.

Summary: I'm very pessimistic. I disagree. Too many questions asking me to interpret why my spouse did something. Thing is, I know what he'd do because I know him well. That says nothing about me. And I can't even blame my score on him, cuz calling Yellow pessimistic is just plain ridiculous.