Hope, hopelessness, and coping: A framework for class‐distinctive cognitive capital

Abstract

Evidence that a variety of psychological dispositions vary systematically with social class has been reported in the marketing literature over the last 50 years. However, recent work has been extremely limited. Research progress has been stifled because of poor conceptual specification and lack of an integrative framework capable of grounding these dispositions in theory. This article draws upon the psychology of coping-specifically harnessing hope/hopelessness theories-to develop a much-needed framework. This will facilitate clear conceptual specification of the psychological dispositions where social class distinctions have been proposed, and specify the relations between each of the dispositions. The term cognitive capital is introduced to capture the idea that one's mix of psychological dispositions operates as a system that can be thought of as an important type of resource that is gradationally distributed with social class level. This cognitive-capital system impacts life chances and quality-of-life outcomes via the predominant pattern of coping responses that are employed in dealing with the many adversities, threats, and challenges that life typically presents. The framework provides academics with a vehicle to progress understanding of these psychological phenomena, marketing communicators with an enriched picture of class-based distinctions, and public policy makers with an understanding of levers that contribute to social inequality.

Entrepreneurs’ decision making under different levels of uncertainty: the role of emotions

“…Finally, all the emotions in this study are cognitive in nature, i.e., based on reflection and evaluation (Scherer, 2005) and the positive emotions are also action-oriented (Barbalet, 1996;Henry, 2004). A future research agenda is encouraged to take more aesthetic emotions (Lazarus, 1991b) into account.…”

“…Hope involves goal achievement, agency, and pathways to one's goals (Henry, 2004;Snyder, 1995). It is "an overall perception that goals can be met" (Henry, 2004, p. 385).…”

“…Barbalet, 1996). Hope was described as 'The project makes me feel that the goals will finally be met' (Henry, 2004).…”

Factors affecting knowledge sharing in the virtual organisation: Employees’ sense of well-being as a mediating effect

“…Diener and Seligman (2004) verified that positive social relationships are pivotal components of well-being and that a sense of well-being leads to satisfying social relationships. Henry (2004) Individuals who feel they are situated in a trustworthy environment have greater levels of the sense of wellbeing (Helliwell & Huang, 2011;Helliwell & Wang, 2011).…”

Cognitive capital: the case for a construct

“…This is less the case for cognitive ability, cognitive capability and especially cognitive capital and its associated outcomes in examination performance and qualifications, where the focus moves along the continuum from physiology to the learned attributes through which cognitive development is manifest. At this stage, cognitive capital can be usefully conceptualised as an accumulating asset derived from those aspects of cognitive functioning concerned with such developing faculties as memory, attention, perception, problem solving and mental imagery which can be drawn upon to create, and take advantage of, opportunities to sustain wellbeing in response to environmental challenge and stress (Henry 2004).…”