Social optimism as generalized expectancy of a positive outcome

Social optimism was defined as the generalized expectancy of a positive outcome concerning social and ecological issues. The social optimism score showed a high degree of consistency in a sample of young subjects (N = 246) as well as in a sample of older subjects (N = 78). A moderate positive correlation with personal optimism, and a moderate negative correlation with neuroticism, as well as independence of general and failure-related internality and Lie were found. Males displayed a higher degree of social optimism than females. Different degrees of social optimism were found for different age groups. The structural investigation of issue composites yielded three units indicating a conservative, a progressive and a safety orientation.