6.5 Summary

Now that you have attempted some activities, you might like to complete the hope questionnaire again to see if you have noticed any changes. 

Please note that it may take a sustained effort over time to see any dramatic changes.

Follow the scoring information given at the bottom of the questionnaire to discover how optimistic/hopeful you are.

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(Adapted from Snyder et al., 1996)
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A document in the form of a questionnaire. The instructions are: Read each item carefully. Using the scale shown below, please select the number that best describes how you think about yourself right now and put that number in the blank before each sentence. Please take a few moments to focus on yourself and what is going on in your life at this moment. Once you have this “here and now” set, go ahead and answer each item according to the following scale: The scale is defined as 1 Definitely False, 2 Mostly False, 3 Somewhat False, 4 Slightly False, 5 Slightly True, 6 Somewhat True, 7 Mostly True, 8 Definitely True. The six statement are 1. If I should find myself in a jam, I could think of many ways to get out of it. 2. At the present time, I am energetically pursuing my goals. 3. There are lots of ways around any problem that I am facing now. 4. Right now, I see myself as being pretty successful. 5. I can think of many ways to reach my current goals. 6. At his time, I am meeting the goals I have set for myself. Scoring information is given as follows: Pathways subscale score: Add items 1, 3, and 5. Scores on this subscale can range from 3 to 24, with higher scores indicating higher levels of pathways thinking. Agency subscale score: Add items 2, 4, and 6. Scores on this subscale can range from 3 to 24, with higher scores indicating higher levels of agency thinking. Total hope score: Add the pathways and agency subscales together. Scores can range from 6 to 48, with higher scores representing higher hope levels.

You can download this writable PDF version [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]   of the questionnaire if you prefer to save it to your device and/or print it out.

In the next and final unit, you explore how meaning and purpose can help you and your family to build a more positive future.

Further resources

Reading

Lopez, S. J. (2014) Making Hope Happen: Create the Future You Want for Yourself and Others. New York: Simon & Schuster

Seligman, M. (1991). Learned Optimism: How to change your mind and your life. New York: Vintage Books.

Videos

Explanatory Style

The 3 A’s of awesome

Dr. Seligman's Definition of Optimism

Websites

1000 awesome things

Positive News

Positivity ratio

Now go to Unit 7: Meaning and purpose, where you explore the last of our six principles.

References

Ciarrochi, J., Parker, P., Kashdan, T.B., Heaven, P.C. & Barkus, E. (2015) 'Hope and emotional well-being: A six-year study to distinguish antecedents, correlates, and consequences', The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(6), pp.520-532.

Conti, R. (2000). 'College goals: Do self-determined and carefully considered goals predict intrinsic motivation, academic performance, and adjustment during the first semester?', Social Psychology of Education, 4(2), 189-211.

Erez, A. & Isen, A. M. (2002) 'The influence of positive affect on the components of expectancy motivation', Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(6), 1055–1067. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.87.6.1055.

Forgeard, M.J.C. & Seligman, M.E.P. (2012) 'Seeing the glass half full: A review of the causes and consequences of optimism', Pratiques Psychologiques, 18(2), pp.107-120.

Michael, S.T. (2000) 'Hope conquers fear: Overcoming anxiety and panic attacks', Handbook of Hope, pp. 301-319, Academic Press.

Schiavon, C.C., Marchetti, E., Gurgel, L.G., Busnello, F.M. & Reppold, C.T. (2017) 'Optimism and hope in chronic disease: a systematic review', Frontiers in Psychology, 7, p.202.

Snyder, C. R., Shorey, H. S., Cheavens, J., Pulvers, K. M., Adams, V. H., & Wiklund, C. (2002) 'Hope and Academic Success in College', Journal of Educational Psychology, 94, 820-826.https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.94.4.820.

Snyder, C.R., Harris, C., Anderson, J.R., Holleran, S.A., Irving, L.M., Sigmon, S.T., Yoshinobu, L., Gibb, J., Langelle, C. & Harney, P. (1991) The will and the ways: development and validation of an individual-differences measure of hope', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60(4), p.570.

Snyder, C.R., Sympson, S. C., Ybasco, F. C., Borders, T. F., Babyak, M. A., & Higgins, R. L. (1996) 'Development and validation of the State Hope Scale', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 321−335.

6.4 Will and way