kids encyclopedia robot

Hope facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Francesco Guardi 002
Allegory of hope; oil on canvas, Francesco Guardi, 1747

Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's life or the world at large. As a verb, its definitions include: "expect with confidence" and "to cherish a desire with anticipation".

Among its opposites are dejection, hopelessness and despair.

Hope theory

Auschwitz-hope after terror
Auschwitz, a rose expressing hope

As a specialist in positive psychology, The psychologist Charles R. Snyder studied how hope and forgiveness can impact several aspects of life such as health, work, education, and personal meaning. He postulated that there are three main things that make up hopeful thinking:

  • Goals – Approaching life in a goal-oriented way.
  • Pathways – Finding different ways to achieve your goals.
  • Agency – Believing that you can instigate change and achieve these goals.

In other words, hope was defined as the perceived capability to derive pathways to desired goals and motivate oneself via agency thinking to use those pathways.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Esperanza para niños

kids search engine
Hope Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.