Znaczenie i rozwój psychologii nadziei w ujęciu Charlesa Richarda Snydera

Abstract

What is hope, does it belong to any cognitive structure of the mind or rather is it a kind of human feeling? The aim of this paper is to describe the theory of hope according to C.R. Snyder (1944-2006). This contemporary point of view has provided a lot of inspiration for many studies in a variety of different fields. Undoubtedly, the reality of hope has a significant impact on educational performance, health, stress management and adaptive skills. It is not only a life-line in times of emergency or strife, when humans have to cross some difficulties in life, but also the daily force to live in the present. According to Snyder, hope is a three- dimensional construct of the integrated cognitive process (willpower, waypower and goal direction). The applicability and power of this construct lies in its potential to change the general level of hope in individual lives and social groups, not just in the future, but in the present.