Are You a Defensive Pessimist?
It's a tendency to think negatively about your current or future situation in order to avoid disappointment.
By Dr. Chloe Carmichael, Contributor |Oct. 25, 2017, at 6:00 a.m.
Defensive pessimism is a tendency to think negatively about your current or future situation in order to avoid disappointment and keep yourself focused on areas for improvement.
In my clinical practice working with high-functioning clients, I've found that many successful people often exhibit defensive pessimism, and that it does facilitate success, at least to a certain degree. Defensive pessimism can be beneficial because it stimulates you to prepare for possible problems, and it helps you avoid getting grandiose ideas that leave you overly vulnerable to disappointment or embarrassment. On the other hand, excessive defensive pessimism can be detrimental to success because it can facilitate rumination or negative thought spirals, which can stifle motivation and decrease your ability to relax or celebrate victories.
https://health.usnews.com/health-care/for-better/articles/2017-10-25/are-you-a-defensive-pessimist
