TARGET ARTICLE: Hope Theory: Rainbows in the Mind

TLDR

Hope is defined as the perceived capability to create pathways to desired goals and motivate oneself through agency thinking; scales for adults and children are derived from this theory and it is compared to learned optimism, optimism, self‑efficacy, and self‑esteem. The study encourages future research to accurately enhance hope in medical feedback and help people pursue goals best suited to them. The authors review processes that diminish hope in children and adults. Higher hope is consistently linked to better outcomes across academics, athletics, physical health, psychological adjustment, and psychotherapy, and no evidence of “false” hope was found.

Abstract

Abstract Hope is defined as the perceived capability to derive pathways to desired goals, and motivate oneself via agency thinking to use those pathways. The adult and child hope scales that are derived from hope theory are described. Hope theory is compared to theories of learned optimism, optimism, self-efficacy, and self-esteem. Higher hope consistently is related to better outcomes in academics, athletics, physical health, psychological adjustment, and psychotherapy. Processes that lessen hope in children and adults are reviewed. Using the hope theory definition, no evidence is found for "false" hope. Future research is encouraged in regard to accurately enhancing hope in medical feedback and helping people to pursue those goals for which they are best suited.