The Development of Optimism as a Personality Trait in Education alActivities

Abstract

Based on a comparative analysis of the ideas of teachers of the 20th century the author of this article is A. Makarenko-K. Rogers gives a methodological justification and characterization of optimism as a personality quality, and defines its possibilities in educational practice. A. Makarenko’s well-known optimistic assumption that a child will be better tomorrow than yesterday gives the author of the article reason to believed that optimism is an acquired personality trait that can be nurtured. In the work of another educator, C. Rogers, optimism is based on the belief that «behind the pain and adversity lies the good essence of human nature.» In this case, optimism is an innate characteristic that manifests itself in a person’s natural desire for success. By combining these approaches, the author concludes that optimism is an acquired personality trait based on the ability to set goals, on the one hand, and the innate desire for success, on the other. The novelty of this research lies in identifying the pedagogical principles and conditions that promote optimism in educational practice.