Pessimism

This dissertation focuses on the current debate in international relations literature over the risks associated with the proliferation of nuclear weapons. On this subject, IR scholars are divided into roughly two schools: proliferation “optimists,” who argue that proliferation c…

Researchers have found that the personality trait of optimism has a number of psychological benefits such as reducing the risk of depression, increasing self-reliance, and imparting a sense of mastery. Despite these benefits, little research has been done to examine the developm…