One of the fi rst concepts studied by Seligman (1991)that contributed to the development of his notions on happinesswas that of learned optimism. In that publication,the author recounts his journey through the studies aboutlearned helplessness and highlights several benefi ts of thepeople considered optimistic as being more entrepreneurialand having better health. Optimists tend to assume that theproblems experienced are temporary and due to externalcauses, seeking solutions that do not place them as guilty oras failures, and internalizing positive events. This ability toprove optimistic in the face of events not always favorablewas considered one of the bases for Seligman’s theoreticalformulations, as we will see further on.