DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OPTIMISTIC AND PESSIMISTIC INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR ABILITY TO SOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS

In the last years, a new tendency in psychological research has moved from an exclusive focus onnegative and pathological aspects of behavior towards positive and preventive variables, like Optimismand Abilities to Solve Social Problems. Both variables have been considered protecting factors andmediators for different difficulties that arise throughout the lifespan. The objective of this study wasevaluating the possible relationship between Optimism and Abilities to Solve Social Problems. Thesample included 156 males form Santiago, Chile, with ages ranging from 16 to 46 years of age. Weapplied the LOT-R and the SPSI-R. The results indicate that there is a difference between Pessimistic,and Average or Optimistic individuals, relating to a positive orientation to problem solving: Pessimisticsand Optimistics are also different in their rationalization of problem solving, p <0,05.