Dispositional and comparative optimism: a framework for understanding positive minority experience
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Author/Creator ORCID
Date
2011-10-19
Type of Work
Department
Towson University. Department of Psychology
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Citation of Original Publication
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Copyright protected, all rights reserved.
There are no restrictions on access to this document. An internet release form signed by the author to display this document online is on file with Towson University Special Collections and Archives.
There are no restrictions on access to this document. An internet release form signed by the author to display this document online is on file with Towson University Special Collections and Archives.
Subjects
Abstract
The present research is the first to explore dispositional and comparative optimism across sexual orientation and race. Participants included 327 individuals 18 to 63 years of age from different race, sex, and sexual orientation backgrounds and were recruited through online data collection sites. Multiple ANOVAs were conducted to determine differences among the responses to the dispositional and comparative optimism measures. Supporting the initial hypothesis, there were no differences in the dispositional optimism scores across minority status. Partially supporting the initial hypothesis, sexual but not racial minorities rated the minority salient positive events of the comparative optimism measure more likely to happen to them as compared to individuals who identifying with the majority. There were no significant differences in those who identify with the majority and those who identified as minorities with regard to general positive events. Findings suggested that focusing on comparative optimism provides as a useful framework for further understanding positive minority experience.