Childhood hyperoptimism: what it is and how it affects boys and girls

An infant with high levels of optimism, a positive mental attitude, and self-confidence may be healthy and recommended.

However... Is it healthy for children to grow up with this way of thinking? In this article we are going to deal with the topic of childhood hyperoptimism and why it could be unfavorable in the correct development of the human being.

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What is childhood hyperoptimism?

Childhood hyperoptimism is the high level of optimism and confidence that an infant has towards life (and about their own abilities). In other words, it is the optimistic approach from which little ones generally think and see things.

Infants tend to think they have the skills and abilities to do most things just fine. However, it is important to dwell on the following question: will it be favorable for the infant's development to have this perspective on her environment?

Is childhood hyperoptimism good or bad? The world could be better to some extent if we kept a part of our main childhood hyperoptimism, it is important to point out that in any case it could be more It is advisable to do everything possible to maintain a measured and not excessive optimism (adequate levels of optimism) in childhood and in the later stages of the development of the person.

We must also take into consideration the unfavorable facts that we can find ourselves in reality. In fact, this happens naturally in adolescence, because at this stage an inevitable disappointment arises; As we go through it, we begin to discover that the people and the world around us are not exactly as we imagined as children, many of the things may be better and worse at the same time.

It is essential that parents do not transmit an excess of optimism, because seeing the world in a highly optimistic way sometimes turns out to be very fanciful; this makes us move away from reality, and when we notice that life is not as we expected, we can approach disappointment and frustration.

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How is childhood hyperoptimism being lost?

Of course, when we are young, the vast majority of children present a childish hyperoptimism. However, it is during adolescence that inevitable disappointments begin to emerge about the people around us and the world we inhabit. Growing up doesn't hurt, but growing up and discovering reality does hurt.

Although this can be seen as very unfavourable, in reality it is not at all, since it is important begin to have ideas and perceptions more adjusted to the context and reality. Hyperoptimism is lost punctually in adolescence, but also throughout the development of our next stages of life. It is worth specifying that this loss of optimism is gradually being lost, but not in its entirety, since this bias accompanies us throughout our lives.

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Childhood hyperoptimism and learning

The emotional, attitudinal and mental disposition to process each stimulus in a hopeful way allows infants to believe that everything can resolved in a positive way and that negative eventualities are not probable and that if they do happen they are quick and fleeting experiences without importance. This positivism bias significantly favors the child's learning.

Thus, hyperoptimistic children present a satisfactory and successful transition in school, because they enjoy that process. It is important to promote optimism and confidence in this stage of the infant, in this way we will favor her learning, and confidence so that she can relate to others without fear.

Consequences of childhood hyperoptimism

There are more negative than positive consequences when favoring a child's hyperoptimism. Although it is important to educate children so that they have optimism, security and confidence, hyperoptimism goes beyond that because its implications are much greater. Although during childhood it may not affect much, during puberty and adolescence it does. That is why it is important to consider the consequences that childhood hyperoptimism can generate.

Negative effects of hyperoptimism

The excess of unrealistic optimism makes us very vulnerable to the daily problems and adversities that life will show us sooner or later. There are various individuals who link hope with the elements of faith (fatal error). How would Martin Seligman, if optimism is not intelligent and real, it could put you in a vicious circle that can lead to live a completely unreal reality, in which you create false beliefs that everything that is going to happen to you or happen in life can become real just by thinking about it and wishing for it.

This way of coping with excess optimism that borders on the pathological may make us face life in an unreal way affecting our performance and the way we approach life situations.

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The importance of adequate levels of optimism

It is important not to lose our optimism and hope. But it is also important to manage adequate levels so that it does not become a problem or difficulty. The first big step is to understand that although we need these factors, they have to be adjusted according to our reality, especially when becoming aware of how it will change in our stages of development of lifetime. Then, We will see why it is important to maintain and not lose our optimism but modulate it properly.

• We must not lose our optimism bias at adequate levels, because thanks to it we enhance our mental health and well-being.
• It is important to be optimistic not only wishing and hoping that good things happen, but also doing and doing our part so that this really happens with our actions.
• Despite the unfavorable situations of our reality, it is important to maintain hope and optimism because they play a very important role in recognizing that there is also the possibility of experiencing satisfactory situations and favorable.
• Be optimistic without denying reality, on the contrary, understand it. Identify our skills and abilities in order to improve and enhance them, accept that mistakes are part of progress.