pessimistisch

Pessimistisch is a German adjective describing a tendency to see the negative aspects of things or to expect unfavorable outcomes. The term stems from the noun Pessimismus and ultimately from the Latin pessimus meaning "worst," passing through French pessimisme before entering German.

In usage, pessimistic describes a person’s temperament, attitudes, or a forecast. Common expressions include eine pessimistische Haltung, eine pessimistische Prognose oder pessimistische Erwartungen. The word contrasts with optimistisch and is used in everyday language, journalism, and academic writing to characterize tones, outlooks, or evaluations of future events.

In psychology and philosophy, pessimism is sometimes treated as a trait (dispositional pessimism) or as a response to particular circumstances (state pessimism). Research on optimism and pessimism examines how expectancies relate to well-being, motivation, and behavior. Measures such as standardized questionnaires assess generalized expectations of outcome. Some discussions differentiate between realistic caution and persistent negativity.

In culture and literature, pessimistic tones appear in works that emphasize tragedy, human limitation, or social critique. The term can describe a worldview rather than a universal rule, and individuals may shift between pessimistic and other attitudes depending on context and experience.