Disappointment: Direct Positive Psychology And The Humanistic Personality

Any future event has a certain degree of uncertainty. A varying array of emotions accompanies all outcomes. In this paper, the premise expectation is the root of all heartache will be observed. This simply implies that the desired outcome of a situation, frequently disconfirmed, results in negative feelings (Zeelenberg, 2010). The purpose of this paper is to define the inherent uncertainty the future holds, while arguing why expectation fails to meet reality, ultimately leading to negative emotions characterized by disappointment and dismay.
Bell defines disappointment as, “… a psychological reaction to an outcome that does not match prior expectations (Bell, 1985).” Disappointment, a deep-rooted attribute of the human psyche, is a direct
Positive psychologists believe that the human kind tries to seek out the happiest life possible, and therefore they have expectations, hopes, and dreams of bettering themselves (Lecture). Humanistic psychologists, stemming from the ideas of Abraham Maslow, believe every person desires, and actively seeks to reach their perceived “full potential.” Humanistic psychologists believe in personal growth of individuals, and the objective to further their own livelihood by reaching self-actualization (Koltko-Rivera , 2006). Both psychological theories lead to grand visions of life, and in turn, driving expectations. These expectations often differ from likely outcomes or the harsh reality of situations (Zeelenberg 2010). Positive psychologists and humanistic theorists use biology and cognitive reasons to illustrate a better understanding as to why humans consistently build wishes that almost always fall short of the real outcomes. To further support expectation leading to heartache, one must recognize the negation of the argument. If disappointment is to inhibit heartache, and comes solely from expectation, than in that case a complete lack of expectation should prohibit disappointment. Of course, this is not achievable (Dijk, 2003). Psychologists have shown that having no expectations is not possible in the realm of seeking self-actualization and achievement in life. However