Pessimistic Outlook Can Be Good, Says CMU Study (TV5-AP) Detroit--A recent study conducted at Central Michigan University finds there may be some positive effects of having a pessimistic outlook on life. Central Michigan social psychologist Bryan Gibson collaborated with David Sanbonmatsu of the University of Utah to explore the ways in which being a pessimist could positively effect the decisions people make. They discovered that with regard to gambling, pessimists tend to make safer and more conservative choices than their optimistic counterparts. But that's not to say being a pessimist is always the way to go. The persistent nature of the optimistic gamblers makes them keep trying, even when the situation seemed dire. Although they were more likely to lose, the optimists also were more likely to win big.