Hope
Hope is an expectation or desire that a valued possibility may come to pass. It can sustain action despite uncertainty, without guaranteeing success.
Hope theory: A psychological model describing hope through goals, perceived pathways, and the agency to pursue them. It specifies how goal-directed thinking turns hope into a source of motivation.
Desire: A state of wanting an outcome, object, or experience. A valued outcome supplies hope's desire, but wanting alone does not imply possibility.
Positive psychology: The scientific study of well-being, strengths, and conditions that help individuals and communities flourish. Research in this field examines hope as a strength associated with well-being and goal pursuit.
Theological virtue: In Christian theology, a virtue directed toward God and understood as infused by divine grace. Christian theology treats hope not only as an emotion but as a virtue oriented toward divine fulfillment.
Optimism: A tendency to expect favorable outcomes or interpret uncertain situations positively. Hope concerns valued possibilities; optimism more broadly expects favorable outcomes.
Expectation: A belief that an event or outcome is likely to occur. Expectation captures hope's prospective element while leaving out whether the outcome is valued.
Coping: Cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage demands appraised as stressful or difficult. Hope can support persistence and planning while people face stress.
Pandora's box: A Greek myth in which Pandora opens a vessel releasing evils into the world, with hope remaining inside in some versions. The myth leaves open whether hope is humanity's comfort or another affliction.
Self-efficacy: A belief in one's capacity to organize and carry out actions needed for specific goals. Belief in personal capability can make a hoped-for outcome seem reachable.
Uncertainty: A condition in which outcomes, states, or relevant information are not fully known. Hope matters precisely when a valued outcome remains possible but unsettled.