The optimist will say that this glass is half full, while the pessimist proclaims it’s

half empty. Of course, others may suggest that it’s completely FULL of the atoms that

make up water and air. Others still might remind you that atoms are 99.99% empty space,

making the glass...mostly nothing! But in all seriousness, can science explain your

emotional perspective and outlook on life?

It turns out, it may not be in your control. Research has shown that those with two long

alleles on specific genes controlling serotonin are more likely to focus on positive images

- like someone enjoying ice cream - compared to those with a short allele on the same gene,

who are more likely to focus on negative images - like someone being robbed. Variation in

the oxytocin receptor gene can also affect your outlook; Individuals with two copies

of guanine are noted to be more optimistic with higher self-esteem, while those with

copies of adenine were less positive. So it seems that people may be genetically susceptible

to pessimism.

Interestingly, optimists are less likely to be rehospitalized after coronary artery bypass

surgery, show higher academic achievements and even better socioeconomic status. But

it’s not all good; they can overestimate their abilities and underestimate risk. Pessimist,

on the other hand, have a more realistic view of the world, are more cautious when planning

for the future and may even live longer. A landmark study spanning 20 years found that

pessimists use a cautious approach to their finances and health, avoiding risky behaviours

such as smoking and excessive drinking, ultimately giving them the last laugh - literally - over optimists.

But, statistically, most of us are hardwired to lean towards optimism. Known as the Optimism

Bias and found in around 80% of the population, we tend to overestimate the probability of

positive events occurring in the future, while grossly underestimating the probability of

negative ones. For example, even though the divorce rate can be as high as 40%, most newlyweds

predict their probability of getting divorced at...0%. Chances are, when you imagine your

future, it’s usually better than your current situation. Furthermore, we often imagine ourselves

as being more intelligent, sociable and honest than other people.

When we look at the brain, we actually see the left half exhibits increased activity

when imagining positive events, whereas during negative events the right half’s activity

increases, but to a much lesser degree. This suggests that the brain chooses to ignore

and filter out negative information and focus on positivity.

Our perspective is, whether you’re genetically predisposed to see the glass as half empty

or half full - don’t waste water and just drink the damn glass already!

This actually reminded us of another common saying though, that “Giving is better than

receiving” - but is that scientifically accurate? We answered that one over on AsapTHOUGHT

with a special GIVEAWAY which you can click here or use the link in the description to

check out. Special thanks to audible for supporting this

episode and giving you a free audiobook at audible.com/asap. This week we wanted to recommend

the book ‘The Wright Brothers’ which is the amazing story behind the brothers who

taught the world how to fly - while staying optimistic through all the challenges they

faced! You can get a free copy at audible.com/asap or any others of your choice from a massive

selection! We love them as they are great when you’re on the go.

Don’t forget to ask your burning questions, and subscribe for more weekly science videos.

:)