“As good as it gets” or “The best is yet to come”? How optimists and pessimists view their past, present, and anticipated future life satisfaction

We examined the relation between dispositional optimism and subjective evaluations of past, present, and anticipated future life satisfaction. Consistent with previous research and public opinion polls, results from a survey of 400 undergraduates showed an upward “trajectory” in mean life satisfaction ratings: past < present < anticipated future life satisfaction. We compared life satisfaction trajectories among groups of optimists, moderates, and pessimists. In a repeated-measures ANOVA, a significant interaction between temporal perspective (past, present, anticipated future) and optimism/pessimism group revealed surprising similarities and differences between groups. First, optimists were characterized by more positive life evaluations than pessimists, regardless of temporal perspective. Second, both optimists and pessimists reported upward trajectories from the past to the anticipated future. Third, whereas optimists expected that the future would not be more satisfying than the present, pessimists – not optimists – anticipated brighter futures.