Toward a Science of Existential Positive Psychology: A Case of Hope

Hope is not merely a "nice feeling" or passing source of comfort-it is an existential force. It keeps us tethered to a future that is not guaranteed, sustaining us when life strips away the familiar structures that give meaning. My research program examines hope as an existential emotion: one that can accompany suffering and transform it into meaning. In this talk, I present three directions of my work toward building a science of existential positive psychology through the lens of hope. First, I show that hope functions uniquely among positive emotions in daily life. Across a daily diary and shortitudinal study, hope-but not other positive emotions-predicts future meaning in life. Experimental data further reveal that hope most strongly predicts meaning among individuals with a history of early adversity, suggesting that those who have suffered may be better at capitalizing on hope as a meaning-making resource. Second, I explore the psychology of hope amid uncertainty and waiting, where hope sometimes borders on magical thinking. I explore whether people believe hoping can jinx outcomes and shed light on people's perceptions about false hope. Finally, I present new work demonstrating that hopeful feelings can be experimentally induced-through images that represent growth and future possibilities (e.g., children!). I conclude by outlining future directions for the science of hope.