Developing hope in the social context: Alternative perspectives of motive, meaning, and identity.

Abstract

presented a developmental model of hope embedded within a social-cognitive framework. This is a feature common to most contemporary theories of reality negotiation processes. However, in this comment on the Snyder et al. piece, the authors believe that there are alternative accounts of the goal-directed behavior associated with hope that warrant consideration. They briefly describe these competing accounts available in Kohutian self psychology and in multicultural models of behavior. They note points of convergence and divergence, along with implications for clinical practice and theory-driven research. Snyder, Cheavens, and Sympson (1997) have attempted to satisfy a glaring need in our understanding of reality negotiation processes. Specifically, they have delineated basic familial and social dynamics that play an instrumental role in the development of hope in the individual. Furthermore, they have thoughtfully considered ways in which hope affects interpersonal interactions and group behavior. Clinicians have recognized for some time that hope is a critical element of effective group therapy (Yalom, 1985). Yet, a theoretical framework is needed to help clinicians understand how hope develops to appreciate deficiencies and then to design theoretically driven interventions that may augment, instill, refurbish, or build hope in persons who seek psychological services.The dynamics described by Snyder et al. (1997) are grounded in a social-cognitive framework, consonant with most contemporary views of reality negotiation (e.g., Snyder, 1989;Taylor & Brown, 1988). This model stipulates that goal-oriented beliefs and behaviors are modeled by significant others in the individual's early interpersonal environment. These beliefs are then internalized, and the behaviors are

The Need to Belong: A Theory of the Therapeutic Function of the Black Church Tradition

“…Hope is an expectation of or trust in the satisfactory value of future experience (Mahoney, 1985), involving a thinking process of both agency and pathways for achieving goals (Snyder, 1995). In the context of a group, hope may provide advantages for group survival by being a way of thinking about the future and by promoting interpersonal thinking, action, and motivation to work together on shared goals (Elliott, & Sherwin, 1997;Snyder, Cheavens, & Sympson, 1997). Stark and Bainbridge (1985) asserted that belongingness explained religious affiliation as a need for interpersonal interactions, in which belief might be secondary.…”

The Importance of Hope in Coping with Severe Acquired Disability

“…The field of positive psychology has the potential to identify gaps in this knowledge and assist us to support clients in ways that are respectful of their strengths, courage, and determination in the face of significant life challenges (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000;Snyder & Lopez, 2002). The appraisals made by the individual in understanding and reconstructing meaning are critical following an injury such as SCI to understand the adjustment process and factors that are amenable to intervention (Elliott, Kurylo, & Rivera, 2002;Elliott & Richards, 1999;Elliott & Sherwin, 1997). Hope has emerged as a key component of appraisal and reconstruction of meaning following SCI.…”

“…There is much debate about the role and effectiveness of denial in the coping process. Timothy Elliot provided a more complete discussion of this debate (Elliot, Witty, Herrick, & Hoffman, 1991;Elliott & Sherwin, 1997).…”

A framework of Afrocentric hope: Rural South African children's conceptualizations of hope

“…Elliott and Sherwin () also suggest a strong positive relationship between culture and hope. They discuss hope in terms of a collective and shared sense of purpose and belonging, which may be lost when members of a collectivist society relocate to a more individualistic one: “People may need a congruent cultural identity of some sort for their lives and their hope to have meaning because culture provides one with a past, present, and future” (p. 121).…”