2. Explanatory Style & Putting It In Perspective
ECE College Program Curriculum
Module 3
Explanatory Style & Putting It In Perspective

3. Beliefs Involved in Resilient Thinking
Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum
Beliefs Involved in Resilient Thinking
Optimism vs. Pessimism
Self-efficacy vs. Helplessness
Hardiness
Control
Commitment
Challenge
Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

4. Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum
Optimism & Resilience
Hopeful outlook
Capable rather than helpless
Better adjustment to stress & negative events
Lower risk of anxiety & depression
Better physical health
Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

5. Self Efficacy & Resilience
Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum
Self Efficacy & Resilience
Beliefs about:
our ability to cope
resources available
Predict feelings & behaviour
Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

6. Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum
3 C’s of Hardiness
Commitment
Resilient people believe what they do is important
Control
Resilient people believe they can influence outcomes
Challenge
Resilient people consider a demand to be a challenge rather than a threat
Kobasa, S.C., Maddi, S. R., Puccetti, M.C. & Zola, M.A Effectiveness of hardiness, exercise and social support resources
against illness. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 29,
Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

7. Explanations of Negative Events
Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum
Explanations of Negative Events
Negative explanatory style is related to:
Lower grades
Lower immune system functioning
More visits to doctors
Poor health in middle & late adulthood
Depression
Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

8. Dimensions of Explanatory Style
Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum
Dimensions of Explanatory Style
Personalization
Who is to blame?
Permanence
How long will it last?
Pervasiveness
How much of my life will be affected?
Seligman, M. E. P., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L. & Gillham, J.
1995. The Optimistic Child. New York: Harper Perennial.
Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

9. Elements of a Negative Explanatory Style
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Elements of a Negative Explanatory Style
Belief that blame rests squarely on some personal characteristic of oneself
Belief that problems are long-lasting
Belief that problems affect all aspects of one’s life
Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

10. Accurate & Flexible Explanations
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Accurate & Flexible Explanations
Take into account possibility of multiple causes
Assess problems as temporary
Understand that problems affect only some areas of one’s life
Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

11. Why Do We Develop Inaccurate Thinking Habits?
Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum
Why Do We Develop Inaccurate Thinking Habits?
Humans seem compelled to explain the world around them
Often we do not have complete information
Number of explanations is high
We develop short cuts in our thinking
Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

12. Development of a Negative Explanatory Style
Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum
Development of a Negative Explanatory Style
Biological influences
Parenting style – modeling
Attachment relationships
Predictability of early childhood environments
Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

13. Increasing the Accuracy of Our Explanations
Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum
Increasing the Accuracy of Our Explanations
Ask three questions:
Who is to blame?
 Consider multiple causes
How long will it last?
 Be realistic, consider your capacity to adjust
How much of my life will be affected?
 Think about areas of your life that will be affected the least
Seligman, M. E. P., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L. & Gillham, J The Optimistic Child. New York: Harper Perennial.
Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective

14. Putting it In Perspective
Reaching In ... Reaching Out: ECE College Program Curriculum
Putting it In Perspective
Seligman’s Six Questions:
What is the worst thing that can happen?
What is one thing I can do to help stop the worst thing from happening?
What is the best thing that can happen?
What is one thing I can do to make the best thing happen?
What is the most likely thing that will happen?
What can I do to handle the most likely thing if it happens?
Seligman, M. E. P., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L. & Gillham, J.
1995. The Optimistic Child. New York: Harper Perennial.
Module Three: Explanatory Style & Putting it in Perspective