302. Defensive Pessimism - Are There Some Benefits to Negative Thinking?
From Preconceived by Snack Labs
January 13, 2026 · 32 min
About this episode
Zale discusses the benefits of defensive pessimism with Professor Julie Norem, exploring its role in managing anxiety and embracing negative emotions.
In this episode of Preconceived, Zale explores the concept of happiness and melancholy with Professor Julie Norem, a psychology expert from Wellesley College. They delve into the strategy of defensive pessimism, discussing how it can be a beneficial approach for managing anxiety and achieving goals. The conversation also touches on societal pressures to maintain constant happiness and the value of embracing negative emotions as part of a rich, authentic life. Check out Julie's book at https://www.amazon.ca/Positive-Power-Negative-Thinking/dp/0465051391 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Host: Zale
Guest: Professor Julie Norem
Topics covered
- defensive pessimism
- negative thinking
- anxiety management
- happiness
- societal pressures
- authentic life
Keywords
- defensive pessimism
- negative thinking
- anxiety
- happiness
- psychology
- societal pressures
- authentic life
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Wellesley College
Books & works: Positive Power of Negative Thinking
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