Earning a High Salary and Having a Secure Job May Make You More Optimistic
Research after the reunification of East and West Germany reveals what types of work experiences may boost employees’ optimism, and how optimism may change their work experiences
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Optimism is widely considered by the society as a desirable attribute. Many of us believe that having an optimistic attitude will open doors to new opportunities, make us work hard, and attract good things in life. We also like to be around and work with positive people rather than those who are negative and who complain all the time. In general, we believe that optimists, given their positive attitudes and diligent work, can achieve more in life. An intriguing question then arises: how can we enhance our optimism? This question has been tackled in a study entitled “Reciprocal Relationships between Dispositional Optimism and Work Experiences: A Five-Wave Longitudinal Investigation” by Prof. Li Wendong, Assistant Professor of the Department of Management at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School.
“We predict that work experiences related to getting ahead and getting along may boost dispositional optimism,” says Prof. Li whose study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the University of Potsdam, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and National University of Singapore.
In the study, the researchers examined the relationship between dispositional optimism and work experiences, including income, job insecurity, and support from co-workers and supervisors. Dispositional optimism refers to those who expect more good things than bad things will happen in their future. The results show that earning a high salary and having a secure job strengthened dispositional optimism over six years.
Optimism is a Self-Reinforcing Cycle
Existing literature says there are two elements at play when analysing dispositional optimism: selection and socialisation. The former refers to people’s individual characteristics that lead their life choices. The latter refers to how one’s life experiences affect the development of optimism.
According to Prof. Li, the study is the first attempt to integrate the two contrasting perspectives in the field of dispositional optimism. It reveals how both effects can coexist and even reinforce each other over time, as well as how this self-reinforcing cycle affects work experiences. In other words, optimists may select work experiences that fit their levels of optimism, and such work experiences in turn may enhance their optimistic traits later on.