Optimism & Känsla av Sammanhang : En Jämförelse Mellan Tjänstemän och Kollektivanställda

Sammanfattning: We set out to compare two different categories of workers: the, so called, white- and blue collar workers. The studies aim was to measure if there were any observable differences between the two in means of optimism and sense of coherence. There are two tools created for measuring optimism and sense of coherence, the Life Orientation Test – Revised (LOT-R) measures an individual’s level of optimism and Aaron Antonovsky devised a test for measuring an individual’s level of sense of coherence (SOC). Optimism is best explained like a way to measure anticipation, how an individual expect future events to fall out. SOC is best described in what manner said individual copes with life and its events.The result was analyzed with help from scientific theories such as Marx theory of alienation, The Life Mode Analysis and the Regulatory Focus Theory. The Regulatory Focus Theory can best be described as a motivational theory as it has a main focus on the individual’s aims and goals. Marx’s theory of alienation was chosen because it offers thoughts on how work affects an individual’s person.Whilst conducting the study we observed a clear correlation between the tests (LOT-R and SOC), high scores in one test correlated with high tests in the other as well as the opposite. This was further analyzed as it posted an interesting viewpoint on the relationship between optimism and sense of coherence.The results were not showing a big difference between the groups. It did however show a small one, which was consistent throughout all parts of the tests. Members of career life mode showed consistently higher values throughout the conducted test to which we offer a number of possible explanations.