Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's life or the world at large. As a verb, its definitions include: "expect with confidence" and "to cherish a desire with anticipation".
81-459: Speranza is the Italian word for hope . It could refer to one of several things: People [ edit ] Alessandro Speranza , an Italian composer Giovanni Speranza , an Italian soccer player Guy Speranza , a US singer with the band Riot M. Grazia Speranza , Italian applied mathematician and operations researcher Norma Jean Speranza ,
162-694: A "Hope Scale" which considered that a person's determination to achieve their goal is their measured hope. Snyder differentiates between adult-measured hope and child-measured hope. The Adult Hope Scale by Snyder contains 12 questions; 4 measuring 'pathways thinking', 4 measuring 'agency thinking', and 4 that are simply fillers. Each subject responds to each question using an 8-point scale. Fibel and Hale measure hope by combining Snyder's Hope Scale with their own Generalized Expectancy for Success Scale (GESS) to empirically measure hope. Snyder regarded that psychotherapy can help focus attention on one's goals, drawing on tacit knowledge of how to reach them. Similarly, there
243-464: A 1952 film directed by Renato Castellani Il Cammino della speranza , a 1950 Italian language drama film directed by Pietro Germi Other [ edit ] Speranza (moth) , a genus of geometrid moths Speranza (festival) , an annual youth festival of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Speranza Motors , a brand used by Chery Automobile Speranza Park , the former home of
324-477: A belief that future conditions will work out for the best. As a trait , it fosters resilience in the face of stress . Theories of optimism include dispositional models and models of explanatory style . Methods to measure optimism have been developed within both of these theoretical approaches, such as various forms of the Life Orientation Test for the original dispositional definition of optimism and
405-407: A box that contained all manners of evil, unbeknownst to the receiver of the box. Pandora opened the box after being warned not to, and unleashed a multitude of harmful spirits that inflicted plagues, diseases, and illnesses on mankind. Spirits of greed, envy, hatred, mistrust, sorrow, anger, revenge, lust, and despair scattered far and wide looking for humans to torment. Inside the box, however, there
486-486: A cognitive, psychological, social, or physical perspective. Such positive thinking bears fruit when based on a realistic sense of optimism, not on a naive "false hope". The psychologist Charles R. Snyder linked hope to the existence of a goal, combined with a determined plan for reaching that goal. Alfred Adler had similarly argued for the centrality of goal-seeking in human psychology, as too had philosophical anthropologists like Ernst Bloch . Snyder also stressed
567-413: A crucial and inherent aspect of human existence, not only by philosophers from various backgrounds but also by national and international courts, particularly in the past decade. Serving as an existential element within each individual, hope manifests itself in various ways in both private and public spheres. While past court considerations often focused on hopes arising from legal disputes and everyday life,
648-444: A five-point scale from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree" and four filler items. Half of the coded items are phrased optimistically, the other half in a pessimistic way. Compared with its previous iteration, LOT-R offers good internal consistency over time despite item overlaps, making the correlation between the LOT and LOT-R extremely high. The Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ)
729-404: A good life. In his philosophical investigations, Socrates followed a model that did not merely focus on the intellect or reason but a balanced practice that also considered emotion as an important contributor to the richness of human experience. Distinct from a disposition to believe that things will work out, there is a philosophical idea that, perhaps in ways that may not be fully comprehended,
810-445: A healthy lifestyle. There is also the notion of " learned optimism " in positive psychology , which holds that joy is a talent that can be cultivated and can be achieved through specific actions such as challenging negative self talk or overcoming " learned helplessness ". However, criticism against positive psychology argues that it places too much importance on "upbeat thinking, while shunting challenging and difficult experiences to
891-427: A motivation to learn, while perfectionists are highly motivated by a need to prove themselves worthy consistently. Two additional facets of optimalism have been described: product optimalism and process optimalism. The former is described as an outlook that seeks to realize the best possible result, while the latter seeks maximization of the chances of achieving the best possible result. Some sources also distinguish
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#1732848005150972-573: A positive outcome for those who are in control in the wider society, when containment within the immediate family had failed. Object relations theory similarly sees the analytic transference as motivated in part by an unconscious hope that past conflicts and traumas can be dealt with anew. As a specialist in positive psychology , Snyder studied how hope and forgiveness can impact several aspects of life such as health, work, education, and personal meaning. He postulated that there are three main things that make up hopeful thinking: In other words, hope
1053-480: A result of a general well-being factor and family environment influences. Patients with high dispositional optimism appear to have stronger immune systems since optimism buffers against psychological stressors. Optimists appear to live longer. Explanatory style is distinct from dispositional theories of optimism. While related to life-orientation measures of optimism, attributional style theory suggests that dispositional optimism and pessimism are reflections of
1134-603: A source of hope for Christians: "For in this hope we have been saved" (see Romans 8:24). According to the Holman Bible Dictionary , hope is a "[t]rustful expectation...the anticipation of a favorable outcome under God's guidance." In The Pilgrim's Progress , it is Hopeful who comforts Christian in Doubting Castle; while conversely at the entrance to Dante's Hell were the words, "Lay down all hope, you that go in by me". In historic literature of Hinduism, hope
1215-445: A supplement to more traditional cognitive behavioral therapies . In terms of support for physical illness, research suggests that hope can encourage the release of endorphins and enkephalins , which help to block pain. There are two main arguments based on judgment against those who are advocates of using hope to help treat severe illnesses . The first of which is that if physicians have too much hope, they may aggressively treat
1296-630: A way to maintain personal motivation, which ultimately will result in a greater sense of optimism. Hope, and more specifically, particularized hope, has been shown to be an important part of the recovery process from illness; it has strong psychological benefits for patients, helping them to cope more effectively with their disease. For example, hope motivates people to pursue healthy behaviors for recovery, such as eating fruits and vegetables, quitting smoking, and engaging in regular physical activity . This not only helps to enhance people's recovery from illnesses but also helps prevent illness from developing in
1377-464: Is a glass filled with water to the halfway point : an optimist is said to see the glass as half full, while a pessimist sees the glass as half empty. The term derives from the Latin optimum , meaning "best". To be optimistic, in the typical sense of the word, is to expect the best possible outcome from any given situation. This is usually referred to in psychology as dispositional optimism. It reflects
1458-487: Is a powerful protector against chronic or life-threatening illnesses. A person’s hope (even when facing an illness that will likely end their life) can be helpful by finding joy or comfort. It can be created and focused on achieving life goals, such as meeting grandchildren or attending a child’s wedding. Hope can be an opportunity for us to process and go through events, that can be traumatic. A setback in life, an accident, or our own final months of living can be times when hope
1539-425: Is an outlook and a grasp of reality to hope, distinguishing No Hope , Lost Hope , False Hope and Real Hope , which differ in terms of viewpoint and realism. Contemporary philosopher Richard Rorty understands hope as more than goal setting , rather as a metanarrative , a story that serves as a promise or reason for expecting a better future. Rorty as postmodernist believes past meta–narratives, including
1620-453: Is based on the explanatory style model of optimism. Subjects read a list of six positive and negative events (e.g. " you have been looking for a job unsuccessfully for some time "), and are asked to record a possible cause for the event. They then rate whether this is internal or external, stable or changeable, and global or local to the event. There are several modified versions of the ASQ including
1701-424: Is comfort and serves as a pathway from one stage to the next. The inclusion of hope in treatment programs has potential in both physical and mental health settings. Hope as a mechanism for improved treatment has been studied in the contexts of PTSD, chronic physical illness, and terminal illness, among other disorders and ailments. Within mental health practice, clinicians have suggested using hope interventions as
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#17328480051501782-745: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Hope Among its opposites are dejection, hopelessness , and despair . Hope finds expression through many dimensions of human life, including practical reasoning, the religious virtue of hope , legal doctrine, and literature alongside cultural and mythological aspects. Professor of Psychology Barbara Fredrickson argues that hope comes into its own when crisis looms, opening us to new creative possibilities. Frederickson argues that with great need comes an unusually wide range of ideas, as well as such positive emotions as happiness and joy, courage, and empowerment, drawn from four different areas of one's self: from
1863-554: Is more difficult, as the individual most likely does not have direct control over the future of their health. Instead, Herth suggests that the goals should be concerned with how the individual is going to personally deal with the illness—"Instead of drinking to ease the pain of my illness, I am going to surround myself with friends and family". While the nature of the goals in Snyder's model differ with those in Herth's model, they both view hope as
1944-531: Is no necessity to seeing optimalism realization as divinely instituted because it is a naturalistic theory in principle. Psychological optimalism, as defined by the positive psychologist Tal Ben-Shahar , means willingness to accept failure while remaining confident that success will follow, a positive attitude he contrasts with negative perfectionism . Perfectionism can be defined as a persistent compulsive drive toward unattainable goals and valuation based solely in terms of accomplishment. Perfectionists reject
2025-461: Is often a motivating force for change in dynamic characters. A commonly understood reference from western popular culture is the subtitle " A New Hope " from the original first installment (now considered Episode IV) in the Star Wars science fiction space opera . The subtitle refers to one of the lead characters, Luke Skywalker , who is expected in the future to allow good to triumph over evil within
2106-606: Is positively correlated with life satisfaction , happiness, and psychological and physical well-being, and negatively correlated with depression and anxiety. Seeking to explain the correlation, researchers find that optimists choose healthier lifestyles. For example, optimists smoke less, are more physically active, consume more fruit, vegetables, and whole-grain bread, and are more moderate in alcohol consumption. Research to date has demonstrated that optimists are less likely to have certain diseases or develop certain diseases over time. Research has not yet been able to demonstrate
2187-482: Is referred to with Pratidhi (Sanskrit: प्रतिधी), or Apêksh (Sanskrit: अपेक्ष). It is discussed with the concepts of desire and wish. In Vedic philosophy , karma was linked to ritual sacrifices ( yajna ), hope and success linked to correct performance of these rituals. In Vishnu Smriti , the image of hope, morals and work is represented as the virtuous man who rides in a chariot directed by his hopeful mind to his desired wishes, drawn by his five senses, who keeps
2268-563: Is simply the lay-term for what researchers know as explanatory style. More commonly, it is found that explanatory style is distinct from dispositional optimism, so the two should not be used interchangeably as they are marginally correlated at best. More research is required to "bridge" or further differentiate these concepts. As with all psychological traits , differences in both dispositional optimism and pessimism and in attributional style are heritable . Both optimism and pessimism are strongly influenced by environmental factors , including
2349-443: Is the foundation of putting those suffering on a path toward inner freedom and holistic well-being. It instills the belief in positive outcomes even in the midst of suffering and adversity. Optimism Optimism is an attitude reflecting a belief or hope that the outcome of some specific endeavor, or outcomes in general, will be positive, favorable, and desirable. A common idiom used to illustrate optimism versus pessimism
2430-442: Is the opposite end of a single dimension with pessimism, with any distinction between them reflecting factors such as social desirability . Confirmatory modelling , however, supports a two-dimensional model and the two dimensions predict different outcomes . Genetic modelling confirms this independence, showing that pessimism and optimism are inherited as independent traits, with the typical correlation between them emerging as
2511-486: The best of all possible worlds ( le meilleur des mondes possibles ) , or that God created a physical universe that applies the laws of physics. The concept was also reflected in an aspect of Voltaire 's early philosophy, one that was based on Isaac Newton 's view that described a divinely ordered human condition. This philosophy would also later emerge in Alexander Pope 's Essay on Man . Leibniz proposed that it
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2592-487: The Attributional Style Questionnaire designed to test optimism in terms of explanatory style. Variation in optimism between people is somewhat heritable and reflects biological trait systems to some degree. A person's optimism is also influenced by environmental factors , including family environment, and may be learnable. Optimism may also be related to health . Researchers operationalize
2673-487: The Christian story, utilitarianism, and Marxism have proved false hopes; that theory cannot offer social hope; and that liberal man must learn to live without a consensual theory of social hope. Rorty says a new document of promise is needed for social hope to exist again. Of the countless models that examine the importance of hope in an individual's life, two major theories have gained a significant amount of recognition in
2754-1012: The Expanded Attributional Style Questionnaire (EASQ), the Content Analysis of Verbatim Explanations (CAVE), and the ASQ designed for testing the optimism of children. Optimism and health are correlated moderately. Optimism explains between 5–10% of the variation in the likelihood of developing some health conditions ( correlation coefficients between .20 and .30), notably including cardiovascular disease , stroke , and depression . The relationship between optimism and health has also been studied with regard to physical symptoms, coping strategies, and negative effects for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis , asthma , and fibromyalgia . Among individuals with these diseases, optimists are not more likely than pessimists to report pain alleviation due to coping strategies, despite differences in psychological well-being between
2835-755: The Toledo Maumees baseball team Icaria Speranza, a colony of the Icarians utopian movement A character in Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Speranza . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Speranza&oldid=1167262164 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
2916-538: The ability to change an individual's level of optimism through psychological interventions , and thereby perhaps alter the course of disease or likelihood for development of disease. An article by Mayo Clinic argues that steps to change self-talk from negative to positive may shift individuals from a negative to a more positive/optimistic outlook. Strategies claimed to be of value include surrounding oneself with positive people, identifying areas of change, practicing positive self-talk, being open to humor, and following
2997-430: The atrocities committed by the pre-revolutionary France against its people. As defined by Nicholas Rescher , philosophical optimalism holds that this universe exists because it is better than the alternatives. While this philosophy does not exclude the possibility of a deity , it also does not require one, and is compatible with atheism . Rescher explained that the concept can stand on its own feet, arguing that there
3078-469: The birth name of US pop singer Jill Corey Sandro Finocchio Speranza, the birth name of Sandro Finoglio , a Venezuelan TV show host Vincent Speranza , an American WW2 veteran A pseudonym used by the Irish poet Jane Wilde Films [ edit ] Il viale della speranza , a 1953 Italian drama film directed by Dino Risi La grande speranza , a 1954 anti-war film Due soldi di speranza ,
3159-479: The body that can make recovery from chronic illness more likely. This chain reaction is especially evident with studies demonstrating the placebo effect , a situation when hope is the only variable aiding in these patients’ recovery. Overall, studies have demonstrated that maintaining a sense of hope during a period of recovery from illness is beneficial. A sense of hopelessness during the recovery period has, in many instances, resulted in adverse health conditions for
3240-628: The building of the Shanghai World Financial Center , Burj Khalifa and Taipei 101 , which has given rise to a prevailing hope within the countries of origin. In chaotic environments hope is transcended without cultural boundaries, Syrian refugee children are supported by UNESCO's education project through creative education and psycho-social assistance. Other inter-cultural support for instilling hope involve food culture, disengaging refugees from trauma through immersing them in their rich cultural past. Hope has been widely recognized as
3321-602: The chariot on the path of the virtuous, and thus is not distracted by the wrongs such as wrath, greed, and other vices. In the centuries that followed, the concept of karma changed from sacramental rituals to actual human action that builds and serves society and human existence –a philosophy epitomized in the Bhagavad Gita . Hope, in the structure of beliefs and motivations, is a long-term karmic concept. In Hindu belief, actions have consequences, and while one's effort and work may or may not bear near term fruits, it will serve
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3402-513: The correct pathways to do so. Whereas Snyder's theory focuses on hope as a mechanism to overcome an individual's lack of motivation to achieve goals, the other major theory developed by Kaye A. Herth deals more specifically with an individual's future goals as they relate to coping with illnesses. Herth views hope as "a motivational and cognitive attribute that is theoretically necessary to initiate and sustain action toward goal attainment". Establishing realistic and attainable goals in this situation
3483-442: The current predominant topic of discussion centers around the hope of incarcerated individuals seeking release. See, for instance, Graham v. Florida , 560 U.S. 48, 52 (2010). Riofrio's examination delves not only into specific expressions of the right to hope but also into the right to hope itself as a comprehensive concept. In this exploration, he draws connections between numerous legal doctrines addressing everyday hopes, such as
3564-403: The doctrines of legitimate expectations and loss of a chance. Drawing insights from extensive case law explicitly referencing the right to hope, international legal precedents, philosophical teachings from eminent scholars, and certain theological arguments, Riofrio concludes that the unenumerated right to hope encompasses four essential elements: Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in
3645-404: The earliest forms of philosophical optimism was Socrates' theory of moral intellectualism, which formed part of his model of enlightenment through the process of self-improvement. According to the philosopher, it is possible to live a virtuous life by attaining moral perfection through philosophical self-examination. He maintained that knowledge of moral truth is necessary and sufficient for leading
3726-454: The family environment. Optimism may be indirectly inherited as a reflection of underlying heritable traits such as intelligence , temperament , and alcoholism . Evidence from twin studies shows that the inherited component of the dispositional optimism is about 25 percent, making this trait a stable personality dimension and a predictor of life outcomes. Its genetic origin interacts with environmental influences and other risks, to determine
3807-510: The field of psychology . One of these theories, developed by Charles R. Snyder , argues that hope should be viewed as a cognitive skill that demonstrates an individual's ability to maintain drive in the pursuit of a particular goal. This model reasons that an individual's ability to be hopeful depends on two types of thinking: agency thinking and pathway thinking. Agency thinking refers to an individual's determination to achieve their goals despite possible obstacles, while pathway thinking refers to
3888-413: The first place. Patients who maintain high levels of hope have an improved prognosis for life-threatening illness and an enhanced quality of life. Belief and expectation, which are key elements of hope, block pain in patients suffering from chronic illness by releasing endorphins and mimicking the effects of morphine. Consequently, through this process, belief and expectation can set off a chain reaction in
3969-439: The global explanations do so for all types of events, and the styles correlate among each other. In addition, individuals vary in how optimistic their attributions are for good events and on how pessimistic their attributions are for bad events. Still, these two traits of optimism and pessimism are un-correlated. There is much debate about the relationship between explanatory style and optimism. Some researchers argue that optimism
4050-460: The good, that the journey of one's diligent efforts ( karma ) and how one pursues the journey, sooner or later leads to bliss and moksha . Buddhism's teachings are centered around the concept of hope. It puts those who are suffering on a path to a more harmonious world and better well-being. Hope acts as a light to those who are lost or suffering. Factors of Saddha (faith), wisdom, and aspiration work together to form practical hope. Practical hope
4131-465: The link between hope and mental willpower ( hardiness ), as well as the need for realistic perception of goals (problem orientation), arguing that the difference between hope and optimism was that the former can look like wishful thinking but the latter provides the energy to find practical pathways for an improved future. D. W. Winnicott saw a child's antisocial behavior as expressing as a cry for help, an unconscious hope, meaning an unspoken desire for
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#17328480051504212-435: The matter of globalization , hope is focused on economic and social empowerment. Focusing on parts of Asia, hope has taken on a secular or materialistic form in relation to the pursuit of economic growth. Primary examples are the rise of the economies of China and India , correlating with the notion of Chindia . A secondary relevant example is the increased use of contemporary architecture in rising economies, such as
4293-443: The measures distinguish attributions for positive and negative events. Optimistic people attribute internal, stable, and global explanations to good things. Pessimistic explanations attribute these traits of stability, globality, and internality to negative events, such as relationship difficulty. Models of optimistic and pessimistic attributions show that attributions themselves are a cognitive style – individuals who tend to focus on
4374-403: The other evils, to fling away his life, but to go on letting himself be tormented again and again. Therefore he gives Man hope,—in reality it is the worst of all evils, because it prolongs the torments of Man. Elpis (Hope) appears in ancient Greek mythology with the story of Zeus and Prometheus . Prometheus stole fire from the god Zeus, which infuriated the supreme god. In turn, Zeus created
4455-410: The other personality factors. Over time, the more optimistic students were less stressed, less lonely, and less depressed than their pessimistic counterparts. This study suggests a strong link between optimism and psychological well-being. Low optimism may help explain the association between caregivers' anger and reduced sense of vitality . A meta-analysis of optimism supported findings that optimism
4536-756: The overall optimism and longevity of cohorts of men from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study and women from the Nurses' Health Study . The study found a positive correlation between higher levels of optimism and exceptional longevity, defined as a lifespan exceeding 85 years. Another study conducted by Aspinwall and Taylor (1990) assessed incoming freshmen on a range of personality factors such as optimism, self-esteem, locus of self-control, etc. Freshmen who scored high on optimism before entering college had lower levels of psychological distress than their more pessimistic peers while controlling for
4617-540: The patient (i.e. depression and anxiety following the recovery process). Additionally, having a greater amount of hope before and during cognitive therapy has led to decreased PTSD-related depression symptoms in war veterans. Hope has also been found to be associated with more positive perceptions of subjective health. However, reviews of research literature have noted that the connections between hope and symptom severity in other mental health disorders are less clear, such as in cases of individuals with schizophrenia . Hope
4698-436: The patient and the physician. The impact that hope can have on a patient's recovery process is strongly supported through both empirical research and theoretical approaches. However, reviews of literature also maintain that more longitudinal and methodologically sound research is needed to establish which hope interventions are actually the most effective, and in what setting (i.e. chronic illness vs. terminal illness ). In
4779-401: The patient. The physician will hold on to a small shred of hope that the patient may get better. Thus, this causes them to try methods that are costly and may have many side effects. One physician noted that she regretted having hope for her patient; it resulted in her patient suffering through three more years of pain that the patient would not have endured if the physician had realized recovery
4860-432: The pessimistic position that, since this is the best of all possible worlds, it is impossible for anything to get any better. Conversely, philosophical pessimism might be associated with an optimistic long-term view because it implies that no change for the worse is possible. Voltaire found it difficult to reconcile Leibniz's optimism with human suffering as demonstrated by the earthquake that devastated Lisbon in 1755 and
4941-482: The plot of the films. The swallow has been a symbol of hope, in Aesop's fables and numerous other historic literature. It symbolizes hope, in part because it is among the first birds to appear at the end of winter and the start of spring. Other symbols of hope include the anchor and the dove . Nietzsche took a contrarian but coherent view of hope:- ... Zeus did not wish man, however much he might be tormented by
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#17328480051505022-401: The present moment is in an optimum state. This view that all of nature—past, present, and future—operates by laws of optimization along the lines of Hamilton's principle in the realm of physics is countered by views such as idealism , realism , and philosophical pessimism . Philosophers often link the concept of optimism with the name of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz , who held that we live in
5103-400: The realities and constraints of human ability. They cannot accept failures, delaying any ambitious and productive behavior in fear of failing again. This neuroticism can even lead to clinical depression and low productivity. As an alternative to negative perfectionism, Ben-Shahar suggests the adoption of optimalism. Optimalism allows for failure in pursuit of a goal, and expects that while
5184-554: The recovery process for a number of patients that had undergone surgery. The study showed that optimism was a strong predictor of the rate of recovery. Optimists achieved faster results in "behavioral milestones" such as sitting in bed, walking around, etc. They also were rated by staff as having a more favorable physical recovery. At a six-month follow-up, optimists were quicker to resume normal activities. A number of studies have been done on optimism and psychological well-being. One 30-year study undertaken by Lee et al . (2019) assessed
5265-503: The related concept of "trust" and that "toḥelet" signifies "expectation". Hope is one of the three theological virtues of the Christian religion, alongside faith and love . "Hope" in the Holy Bible means "a strong and confident expectation" of future reward (see Titus 1:2). In modern terms, hope is akin to trust and a confident expectation". Paul the Apostle argued that Christ was
5346-418: The side"—threatening to become toxic positivity . A study involving twins found that optimism is largely inherited at birth. Along with the recognition that childhood experiences determine an individual's outlook, such studies demonstrate the genetic basis for optimism reinforces the recognized difficulty in changing or manipulating the direction of an adult's disposition from pessimist to optimist. One of
5427-537: The slobber dripping from the mouth of Fenris Wolf : their concept of courage rated most highly a cheerful bravery in the absence of hope. Hope is a key concept in most major world religions, often signifying the "hoper" believes an individual or a collective group will reach a concept of heaven . Depending on the religion, hope can be seen as a prerequisite for and/or byproduct of spiritual attainment. The Jewish Encyclopedia notes "tiḳwah" (תקווה) and "seber" as terms for hope, adding that "miḳweh" and "kislah" denote
5508-475: The soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all. A classic reference to hope which has entered modern language is the concept that "Hope springs eternal" taken from Alexander Pope 's Essay on Man , the phrase reading "Hope springs eternal in the human breast, Man never is, but always to be blest:" Another popular reference, "Hope is the thing with feathers," is from a poem by Emily Dickinson . Hope can be used as an artistic plot device and
5589-743: The tasks of processing and incorporating beliefs regarding good and bad information respectively. The Life Orientation Test (LOT) was designed by Scheier and Carver (1985) to assess dispositional optimism – expecting positive or negative outcomes. It is one of the more popular tests of optimism and pessimism. It was often used in early studies examining these dispositions' effects in health-related domains. Scheier and Carver's initial research, which surveyed college students, found that optimistic participants were less likely to show an increase in symptoms like dizziness, muscle soreness, fatigue, blurred vision, and other physical complaints than pessimistic respondents. There are eight items and four filler items in
5670-866: The term "optimism" differently depending on their research. As with any trait characteristic, there are several ways to evaluate optimism, such as the Life Orientation Test (LOT), an eight-item scale developed in 1985 by Michael Scheier and Charles Carver. Dispositional optimism and pessimism are typically assessed by asking people whether they expect future outcomes to be beneficial or negative (see below). The LOT returns separate optimism and pessimism scores for each individual. Behaviourally, these two scores correlate around r =0.5. Optimistic scores on this scale predict better outcomes in relationships, higher social status , and reduced loss of well-being following adversity. Health-preserving behaviors are associated with optimism while health-damaging behaviors are associated with pessimism. Some have argued that optimism
5751-485: The test. Four are positive items (e.g. "In uncertain times, I usually expect the best") and four are negative items e.g. "If something can go wrong for me, it will." The LOT has been revised twice—once by the original creators (LOT-R) and also by Chang, Maydeu-Olivares, and D'Zurilla as the Extended Life Orientation Test (ELOT). The Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) consists of six items, each scored on
5832-446: The trend of activity is towards the positive, it is not necessary always to succeed while striving towards goals. This basis in reality, prevents the optimalist from being overwhelmed in the face of failure. Optimalists accept failures and learn from them, encouraging further pursuit of achievement. Ben-Shahar believes that optimalists and perfectionists show distinct motives. Optimalists tend to have more intrinsic, inward desires, with
5913-692: The two groups. A meta-analysis confirmed the assumption that optimism is related to psychological well-being: "Put simply, optimists emerge from difficult circumstances with less distress than do pessimists." Furthermore, the correlation appears to be attributable to coping style: "That is, optimists seem intent on facing problems head-on, taking active and constructive steps to solve their problems; pessimists are more likely to abandon their effort to attain their goals." Optimists may respond better to stress: pessimists have shown higher levels of cortisol (the "stress hormone") and trouble regulating cortisol in response to stressors. Another study by Scheier examined
5994-405: The vulnerability to depression across the lifespan. Many theories assume optimism can be learned , and research supports a modest role of family-environment acting to raise (or lower) optimism and lower (or raise) neuroticism and pessimism. Work utilising brain imaging and biochemistry suggests that at a biological trait level, optimism and pessimism reflect brain systems specialised for
6075-557: The ways in which an individual believes they can achieve these personal goals. Snyder's theory uses hope as a mechanism that is most often seen in psychotherapy . In these instances, the therapist helps their client overcome barriers that have prevented them from achieving goals. The therapist would then help the client set realistic and relevant personal goals (i.e. "I am going to find something I am passionate about and that makes me feel good about myself"), and would help them remain hopeful of their ability to achieve these goals, and suggest
6156-525: The ways people explain events, i.e., that attributions cause these dispositions. An optimist would view defeat as temporary, as something that does not apply to other cases, and as something that is not their fault. Measures of attributional style distinguish three dimensions among explanations for events: Whether these explanations draw on internal versus external causes; whether the causes are viewed as stable versus unstable; and whether explanations apply globally versus being situationally specific. In addition,
6237-417: Was also an unreleased healing spirit named Hope. From ancient times, people have recognized that a spirit of hope had the power to heal afflictions and helps them bear times of great suffering, illnesses, disasters, loss, and pain caused by the malevolent spirits and events. In Hesiod 's Works and Days , the personification of hope is named Elpis . Norse mythology however considered Hope ( Vön ) to be
6318-433: Was defined as the perceived capability to derive pathways to desired goals and motivate oneself via agency thinking to use those pathways. Snyder argues that individuals who are able to realize these three components and develop a belief in their ability are hopeful people who can establish clear goals, imagine multiple workable pathways toward those goals, and persevere, even when obstacles get in their way. Snyder proposed
6399-440: Was mocked by Voltaire in his satirical novel Candide as baseless optimism of the sort exemplified by the beliefs of one of its characters, Dr. Pangloss , which are the opposite of his fellow traveller Martin 's pessimism and emphasis on free will . The optimistic position is also called Panglossianism which became an term for excessive, even stupendous, optimism. The phrase "panglossian pessimism" has been used to describe
6480-433: Was not God's power to create a perfect world, but he created the best among possible worlds. In one of his writings, he responded to Blaise Pascal 's philosophy of awe and desperation in the face of the infinite by claiming that infinity should be celebrated. While Pascal advocated for making man's rational aspirations more humble, Leibniz was optimistic about the capacity of human reason to extend itself further. This idea
6561-465: Was unfeasible. The second argument is the division between hope and wishing . Those that are hopeful are actively trying to investigate the best path of action while taking into consideration the obstacles. Research has shown though that many of those who have "hope" are wishfully thinking and passively going through the motions, as if they are in denial about their actual circumstances. Being in denial and having too much hope may negatively impact both
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