The role of optimism and pessimism in the dynamics of emotional states

In this paper we make an attempt to study the influence of optimism and pessimism into our social life. We base on the model considered earlier by Rinaldi and Gragnani (1998) and Rinaldi et al. (2010) in the context of romantic relationships. Liebovitch et al. (2008) used the same model to describe competition between communicating people or groups of people. Considered system of non-linear differential equations assumes that the emotional state of an actor at any time is affected by the state of each actor alone, rate of return to that state, second actor's emotional state and mutual sympathy. Using this model we describe the change of emotions of both actors as a result of a single meeting. We try to explain who wants to meet whom and why. Interpreting the results, we focus on the analysis of the impact of a person's attitude to life (optimism or pessimism) on establishing emotional relations. It occurs that our conclusions are not always obvious from the psychological point of view. Moreover, using this model, we are able to explain such strange behavior as so-called Stockholm syndrom.