What Martin Seligman has said about Optimism
2 quotes · 1 episode · Oct 24, 2026
Martin Seligman, Psychologist known for learned helplessness research, author of a forthcoming book on agency, has been quoted on Optimism 2 times in 1 episode of Modern Wisdom, most recently on October 24, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Seligman contends that pessimism is an evolutionary inheritance while optimism must be learned.
“So being negative, being a pessimist comes naturally. What does not come naturally and needs learning is being an optimist”
Modern Wisdom: Positive Psychology Founder: How To Stop Your Negative Thoughts - Martin Seligman - #1167 (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 18:06
Seligman recommends realistically disputing catastrophic automatic thoughts, saying it makes people more optimistic and less depressed months later.
“When you learn to become a good disputer of automatic thoughts, pessimism changes to optimism, and it's fun”
Modern Wisdom: Positive Psychology Founder: How To Stop Your Negative Thoughts - Martin Seligman - #1167 (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 20:35
Episodes
Positive Psychology Founder: How To Stop Your Negative Thoughts - Martin Seligman - #1167Modern Wisdom · Oct 24, 2026 · 1 h 21 min
Chris Williamson talks with psychologist Martin Seligman about learned helplessness, optimism, his new book Agency, AI and creativity, and the Axial Age.
Martin Seligman on other topics
- Agency (Martin Seligman book) · 3 quotes
- Artificial intelligence · 2 quotes
- Learned helplessness · 2 quotes
- Positive psychology · 2 quotes
- What You Can Change and What You Can't · 1 quote
- Dreaming · 1 quote
- 2024 United States presidential election · 1 quote
- Consciousness · 1 quote