In this study we tested the effect of individual differences in dispositional optimism and pessimism on target detection. Following proximal task dimensions set out by the Model of Maximal Adaptability, three tasks were employed in the current study, varying in their spatial and temporal emphasis. Performance as measured by self report of stress was examined in light of individual differences in attentional narrowing across the three task levels. Prior research indicates that optimism predicts increased
Task-Engagement, but in this study there was a novel finding that higher levels of optimism predicted decreased
Task-Engagement in spatial-dominant tasks. Optimism was also found to predict increased levels of post-task Worry in temporal-dominant tasks. However, expected relations between pessimism as post-task stress state were not observed. Although the results of the current study did not confirm the hypotheses regarding joint resource capacities for spatial and temporal task components, results did indicate that dispositional optimism does impact Task-Engagement, signifying a need for further research on the relation between this trait and participant stress. The results extend prior findings that the relationship between these traits and stress states may depend on the psychophysical characteristics of the target detection task employed.
