Perception of the past can dictate the present, study finds

A new study reveals that an individual's perception of their past can have a strong influence on their current state of mind.

The report, which appears in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, was conducted by researchers from San Francisco State University. The findings are based on a survey of 750 participants who were asked about their personalities and their levels of life satisfaction.

In addition, researchers determined whether they were focused primarily on the past, present or future. They found that people's views on the past had the most significant impact on their present-day emotions.

If people described happy and positive memories of the past, they were more likely to be extroverts and sociable. However, emotionally unstable and neurotic participants were more likely to remember the past as a series of negative experiences.

Although real events can shape one's overall satisfaction, this study reveals that one's perception is just as crucial when it comes to emotional and social conditions.

Adolescents who tend to see the glass half-empty rather than half-full may benefit from boot camps for troubled teens.