Social optimism and social activity of youth: points of intersection

The article reveals the study of the specifics of the manifestation of social activity by groups of students who differ in the degree of social optimism. A preliminary substantive analysis of the concept of “social optimism” at the level of theoretical knowledge was carried out by addressing the issue of satisfying the material and spiritual needs of individuals and social groups as the basis for motivating social actions. The study imple-mented clustering of respondents into groups according to the level of social optimism: “optimists”, “moderates” and “pessimists”. It is established that representatives of the first two groups are similar in aspects of positive perception of reality, self-confidence and effectiveness of their actions, involvement in the socio-political life of the city. “Pessi-mists” are characterized by the predominance of a pessimistic attitude, which is associated not so much with pas-sivity in social terms, as with a predisposition to the realization of social activity in the presence of certain conditions, resources and opportunities. The conclusion is made about the high potential of the studying youth in terms of achieving socially significant goals and meeting their own social needs, provided they have a positive self-percep-tion, a positive assessment of life in general and their own life prospects in particular.