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Review
. 2022 Feb 23:13:809053.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.809053. eCollection 2022.

"A New Hope" for Positive Psychology: A Dynamic Systems Reconceptualization of Hope Theory

Rachel Colla  1 , Paige Williams  1 , Lindsay G Oades  1 , Jesus Camacho-Morles  1
Affiliations
Review

"A New Hope" for Positive Psychology: A Dynamic Systems Reconceptualization of Hope Theory

Rachel Colla et al. Front Psychol. .

Erratum in

Abstract

In this review of the central tenets of hope theory, we examine the meta-theoretical, theoretical, and methodological foundations of the literature base. Our analysis moves from a broad examination of the research landscape in hope theory across disciplines, to a deeper investigation of the empirical literature in university students. This review highlights the significant impact of this body of research in advancing our understanding of aspects of thriving characterized by hope. However, we also evidence several limitations that may impede the advancement of the next wave of growth in this field. To address these limitations, we argue for an interdisciplinary approach to expanding the meta-theoretical, theoretical, and methodological horizons, enabling a more dynamic systems approach to the study of hope. Drawing on the intersection of positive psychology with systems thinking, we describe a methodological approach that enables a deeper examination of the processes and interactions through which hope emerges, using an analysis of the lived experience of young people. It is proposed that this research agenda will bring to life an alternate story about the resourcefulness of our youth through their own voice, enabling us to leverage this in the design of more effective strategies to facilitate hope in the future. This research agenda provides a roadmap that will provide alternative methodologies that address the current limitations in the field of hope research and, importantly, can provide fuel to spur on the acceleration of the next wave of research and practice in the field of positive psychology more broadly.

Keywords: hope theory; interdisciplinary; meta-theoretical; methodology; systems dynamics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Growth in number of peer-reviewed publications in hope theory by year (1991–2021).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Constellation map showing clusters of application of hope research across disciplines.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Analysis of the type of research method (quantitative, mixed-methods, qualitative) utilized by year.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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