Realism has probably had the greatest impact on educational philosophy, because it is the foundation of scientific reasoning. Realist educators encourage students to draw their observations and conclusions from the world around them, rather than confining themselves to an analysis of their own ideas.

Why did the artist put calligraphy near the figure in the painting above? To seem as if the figure were projecting his thoughts. What unusual credentials did the artist of the painting above possess? He was a high official in the arts and in the Chinese government.

Central to that assumption is the view that human beings are egoistic and desire power. Realists believe that our selfishness, our appetite for power and our inability to trust others leads to predictable outcomes. Perhaps this is why war has been so common throughout recorded history.

Lots of studies over the years have shown optimists to be healthy and happy. But being a measured realist might be even better for your mental health, researchers say.

Pessimism involves looking at the world in a way that emphasizes negativity (think of the “glass half empty vs. half full” cliche), whereas, realism is more about truth and objectivity — not necessarily seeing a situation as bad, just seeing it as something to be dealt with.

If you’re a pessimist, then you have negative thoughts that won’t go away no matter what the odds are. If you’re a realist, you are just coming to terms and accepting a situation rather than feeling like it was yours or someone else’s fault.

Is being pessimistic always such a bad thing? Actually, the latest research suggests that some forms of pessimism may have benefits. Pessimism isn’t just about negative thinking. While optimists expect positive outcomes will happen more often than not, pessimists expect negative outcomes are more likely.

Originally Answered: What is the difference between negative thinking and realistic thinking? Negative thinking is when you always see the worst possible outcome of a situation. Realistic thinking is when you are aware of the possible negative outcomes, but you are also aware of the possible positive ones.