Think back to a difficult point in your life. Were you frustrated, angry, sad, or depressed? One powerful feeling rises from the depths within us and we can't help but view the outer world in a similar fashion. Our perspectives are starting to develop in childhood. We are beginning to make our own judgments and form our blueprints for future thinking habits. For example, children are still learning to control their emotions, whereas an adult will still feel those same emotions but might not necessarily show them outwardly. Adaptation and development of personal perspective are vital to future endeavors.

Take two children, give one an ice cream cone and the other nothing. The first child will feel happy and view the world at that moment as just and caring. The second child would be jealous, upset, and perhaps angry. This child would be visibly upset and depending on age, they might be inconsolable. This child would likely see the world at that moment as unjust and unfair. When a child is inconsolable, even handing them their favorite toy will not calm them. Their perspective has shifted. This does not indicate that inevitably this shift in perspective is permanent or even guaranteed to occur at all. It is simply more likely. The world we live in is replete with stimuli forcing us to identify, problem solve and adapt.

In order to adapt, we must form an opinion or emotion about the circumstance, causing a trigger association in the brain. In the vast world of social media and news platforms, they are constantly being influenced.

People are drawn to other people with similar perspectives

The same is true for optimists. Those with similar viewpoints, especially about life as a whole, tend to flock together.

Humans prefer to live in the least chaotic environment because the brain can only handle so much stress. Why should our social lives be filled with unpleasant situations? We retreat to those who have a similar perspective on life.

Humans by nature give themselves away in obvious as well as subtle ways. Have you ever met someone who, no matter how much positivity surrounded them, they always found a reason to put more focus on what was still wrong with their lives?

To a pessimistic person, the world will always provide more suffering grief than happiness and contentment. They expect the worst. Thinking in such a negative way has been linked to the development of PTSD and other stress-related disorders. That being said, it is important to note, not every person is created equally and this discussion is in terms of statistical data. Perspective development is not guaranteed to follow a path of optimism or pessimism.

Psychologists have been debating for some time about the benefits of each perspective

Optimists have been found in most circumstances to be better equipped to cope with life. They remain positive and steadfast, believing that no matter what, the future is bright with promise and hope.

On the other hand, pessimists have also been found effective at dealing with life. When you expect the worst, a major event or disappointed has already been considered as the outcome. Therefore, a pessimist will not be broken down in these circumstances.

These are two distinct coping mechanisms. Optimists use their mindset to encourage greater performance as a whole. They have the ambition to advance and work toward a greater tier, so to speak. Whereas pessimists primarily use their perspective to guarantee security and stability in life. They prefer to remain stagnant because taking chances is risky and the path is riddled with opportunities for disaster.

A study recently published in Social Cognition by Abigail Hazlett, Daniel C. Molden, and Aaron M. Sackett concluded that adopted perspectives and the benefits they provide depend on the individual and have a clear link to individual motivation (advancement vs stability).
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