Social Optimism in a Crisis: From Defense Mechanisms to Setting Joint Goals

The article considers social optimism as a social and psychological phenomenon. Its main components are revealed (generalized positive expectations and belief in the ability of one's group to cope with difficulties). The socio-psychological fac-tors that influence its severity, as well as its psychological functions in a crisis, are analyzed. It is concluded that at the moment social optimism performs a pre-dominantly protective function (protection of a positive group identity and psy-chological well-being of group members), while it is necessary to maintain its in-strumental function (facilitating the setting of ambitious joint goals, solidarization of people of different views around common social - economic tasks).