Learned Optimism
by Martin Elias Pete Seligman · first published 2006
76% recommend22% neutral3% critical
Why HN recommends it
Research-backed, CBT-style method for changing how you explain events to yourself, so you can reduce pessimism and depression. Suits people wanting a DIY, evidence-based approach to anxiety or low mood.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Known as the father of the new science of positive psychology, Martin E.P. Seligman draws on more than twenty years of clinical research to demonstrate how optimism enhances the quality of life, and how anyone can learn to practice it. Offering many simple techniques, Dr. Seligman explains how to break an I-give-up habit, develop a more constructive explanatory style for interpreting your behavior, and experience the benefits of a more positive interior dialogue. These skills can help break up depression, boost your immune system, better develop your potential, and make you happier. With gener
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…taken for granted that you either have it or you don't. Fortunately current reseach in psychology seems to suggest that this can actually be learned. Here are a couple guides for anyone interested: Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman The Resilience Factor by Karen Revich and Andrew Shatte Mindset by Carolyn Dweck I would even go so far as to suggest that this kind of material, and perhaps even some training,…
on “Learning how to stick with it.” ↗…and tell you where to find the resources that helped me. Thus... I would say that if anything in the post feels like something that is bothering you or has bothered you in the past, go and read about Learned Optimism, the rough opposite of Learned Helplessness: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_optimism And especially Seligman’s self-help book on the subject: http://amzn.to/1zFQXcr The book claims that “optimism”…
on “Unlearning Helplessness” ↗Studies have shown the two to have the same effectiveness rate at treating depression, around 50%. It turns out it is actually healthy to pass the blame. I'd suggest reading one of Seligman's other books, Learned Optimism, for more, but in studies of people in high-pressure situations (freshman year at Army, cold call insurance salesman at MetLife, etc), the most successful people are the ones who externalize (blame others…
on “Depression lies” ↗…depression, went up over the years when those school programs were put in place. In other words, don't just rely on intuition about what would be helpful, but look into actual research. Seligman's books Learned Optimism[1] and The Optimistic Child[2] are both helpful, although there should be some even newer research out by now. Reading those books may help you deal with the challenges of working on this interesting…
on “Ask HN: I'm 15, won a grant to develop a suicide prevention app, what next?” ↗Well, if you're feeling depressed, I can only tell you about something that helped me: Dr. Martin Seligman's book "Learned Optimism." I wrote a little about my perspective on it about a year ago: http://github.com/raganwald/homoiconic/blob/master/2009-05-0... I'm sorry that isn't a grand, unified answer to everything, but if it…
on “Ask HN: Are you happy, well-rounded? (dealing w/ depression/lack of motivation)” ↗…some large number of people tend to discount their successes and zero in on whatever they see as their flaws or failures. The field of CBT is one way to work with this. I particularly like the book "Learned Optimism" by Martin Seligman, which talks about how the stories we tell ourselves about success and failure lead to happiness / optimism or depression / pessimism. He also talks about some of the research that's…
on “Ask HN: What ways have worked for you to overcome 'imposter syndrome'?” ↗…model" approach that doesn't work for people like us, I believe. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other approaches are much more effective, in my opinion. You should also read Martin Seligman's books (Learned Optimism and What You Can Change and What You Can't) as well, and Dan Gilbert's new book: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stumbling_on_Happiness
on “Ask HN: How do you deal with suicidal thoughts ?” ↗Learned Optimism. Seriously. Seligman wrote a great book on the subject: http://www.amazon.com/Learned-Optimism-Change-Your-Mind/dp/0...
on “Learned helplessness” ↗I'd refer you to a book which really helped me out - "Learned Optimism" by Martin Seligman, which will teach you a better way to interpret the events that happen to you, and a quote from Gabriel Garcia Marquez - "What matters in life is not what happens to you, but what…
on “Ask HN: Burned out. How can I make the most of a sabbatical leave?” ↗This new research looks very much like Martin Seligman's theory of learned helplessness developed 25 years ago. His book 'Learned Optimism' is good.
on “Training in 'concrete thinking' can be self-help treatment for depression” ↗> How exactly to do that is the tricky part, though A good start might be with the book "Learned Optimism" from Martin Seligman — http://www.amazon.com/Learned-Optimism-Change-Your-Mind/dp/0.... He argues that most depression is just severe learned helplessness caused by your own pessimistic inner explanations…
on “Suicide” ↗You've got a pretty negative view of people/life overall. I think your perception may be a self fulfilling prophecy. Going to go out on a limb and recommend reading Learned Optimism, by Martin Seligman. I have a predisposition to seeing the negative side of things myself, but I actively work on trying to minimise that. Life really is too short.
on “The Sharp Dropoff In Worker Happiness” ↗…make good programmers rather than programming causing someone to become more pessimistic. If you're interested in understanding some of the psychology between Optimism and Pessimism, I recommend reading Learned Optimism by Martin Selligman. http://amzn.com/1400078393
on “Be nice to programmers” ↗For the best test, check out Martin Seligman's work on using optimism as a proxy for sales success. He wrote about it in his book Learned Optimism. He started this work when consulting for a large company that wanted to improve their sales hiring process.
on “Show HN: Solving the problem of hiring salespeople” ↗…Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle. * Disrupted: My Misadventure in the Start-Up Bubble. You will like or hate this book a lot, but it's surely an interesting read and perspective. * Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life. Good book that gives you a framework to become more optimistic. * Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. * The Three-Body Problem Trilogy. Great, great sci-fi.…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2016?” ↗