The science of optimism and pessimism with Dr. Elaine Fox

Psychologist and neuroscientist Elaine Fox is an expert on the science behind why we're naturally optimistic or pessimistic. In her book, "Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain", she explores whether optimism is innately hardwired, how it relates to happiness (and pessimism to fear), and how much of it's determined by genetic, neurological or experiential factors. She also discusses whether we can change our thought patterns permanently. Dr. Fox grew up in Dublin and has worked at St James Hospital Dublin, University College Dublin, Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand and the University of Essex where she was head of the Department of Psychology & Centre for Brain Science from 2007- 2010, before moving to the University of Oxford in 2013. She is currently a Research Professor in the Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford and Director of the Oxford Centre for Emotions & Affective Neuroscience (OCEAN), where she leads a program of research combining cognitive psychology, neuroimaging, and genetics.