The Practice of Hope

Abstract

A discussion of some of the psychological factors which operate to allow an individual to acquire and maintain hope. Hope is seen to consist of personal construct hierarchies called schemata which are formed and reformed as one interacts with his environment. The development of certain key hierarchies is cited as important before one experiences hope. Maintaining hope involves having good models, confirming types of direct experiences and appropriate communications from other people. Some specific results of the failure to create and maintain hope are also examined.