This is an interesting survey... And, as someone who has been through enough to at least be a cynic, if not something of a pessimist, I thus offer these answers. However, as is true with every survey of this kind, there is no such thing as a black and white answer.
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If some of you dont mind, could you please fill out this survey? Just want to get some thoughts on extremely pessismitc people. Answer Y or N to each one on whether you agree or disagree. I got it from a site.
Pessimism starts at home, in the from of self-pity and suchlike. They are dangerous people. Beware! = Yes and no. I think there are two types of pessimists, the ones that this question describes - those that suffer through self pity, and those that suffer through a lack of faith in others. The first kind, I think, are safer, as self-pity is defeated when they earn the trust and support of the people around them. I find the people who are pessimistic towards others to be more dangerous, as it often runs parallel with narcicism. Such people are less likely to view those around them in positive lights, and thus can act to bring those around them down.
Those who seek only sympathy often can't see others happy = No. In my experience, the people who seek sympathy most do so because they see some form of happiness in that person; be it a happiness that person displays outwardly, or a happiness that such people discover in themselves when they see that person.
Pessimists can be just as happy in life as optimists. = Ironically, yes. An unintended consequence of never expecting much out of life is that it always surpasses expectations.
Pessimists are often in denial of living an unhappy life. As noted above, I once knew a serious narcisist who had a pessimistic view of those around him. For him, happiness was surrounded in the belief that he was better than the people around him. If he felt that way, he was happy. Perhaps for him, that was enough. In retrospect, I look back at the time I called him a friend and cannot fathom how he could be happy. My own opinion is clouded, however, as I no longer call him a friend after he hurt someone I care about pretty deeply. This question forces us to judge others against our own view of what a happy life is, and that is unfair to anyone but ourselves.
Extreme pessimists are highly unlikely to change their behaviour alone = True of any type of dysfunction, I think. I find that the biggest changes we experience in life are rooted in Fate's tugging of the strands of life to force us into new paths. By nature, I find mankind to be very reactionary.
Extreme pessimists are highly unlikely to change their behaviour even with support from friends and family = In the end, to change one's nature requires a fairly strong determination of will. The support of friends and family can make a critical difference in the success of any attempt, however the answer to this question truly lies in your view of the individual.
Pessimistic behaviour is a sign of in-security = I would tend to agree. Be it insecurity in ones self, in others, or in what Fate intends to throw at them next.
Pessimistic behaviour is a sign of depression = Possible but not assumed. Again, the narcicist I reference would be a good example. Hardly depressed, as being better than those he was pessimistic about was where he found satisfaction and a level of happiness.
Pessimistic behaviour is a sign of loneliness = Again, possible but not assumed.
Associating with extremely pessimistic people will most likely be a bad infleunce towards you = Looking at it the wrong way, I think. You could just as easily be a positive influence on them, and help change their outlook. Ultimately, we are responsible for our own actions, and this question strikes me as an attempt to transfer blame to others.
Pessimistic people act that way because it has been in-grained into them since childhood by family and/or surroundings. To them, pessimism is the only lifestyle they've known = Again, possible but not assumed. From my own experience, some of the things I went through as a child had become so seriously ingrained such that it took well over a year of therapy as an adult to even begin to break free. However, look at the next drunk you pass on the street... he did not become an alcoholic as a child, and the pessimism that twins such addictions could well have been borne of the bottle. You cannot answer this question with a generalization. It has to be examined for each individual, and requires an understanding of their history.
Pessimistic people only prepare for the worst case scenario in a situation and just have a bad reputation = I'd say pessimistic people often prepare for the worst case, but not always. Being a pessimist does not automatically equate to having a bad reputation.
A BIG THANKS TO ANY OF YOU WHO ARE WILLING TO FILL IT OUT.
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