The chapter explores the “hope theory.” It reviews the events that prompted the formulation of hope theory and states that the theory is a result of the inventive people who have been part of the hope research group. One of the hope definitions formulated is “a positive motivational state that is based on an interactively derived sense of successful agency (goal-directed energy) and pathways (planning to meet goals).” A second hope definition describes it as “a cognitive set that is based on a reciprocally-derived sense of successful agency (goal-directed determination) and pathways (planning to meet goals).” It may help to dissect this trilogy—goals, pathways, and agency—of goal-related thinking. Routes to desired goals are absolutely essential for a successful hopeful thought. Goals need to be of a sufficient value to occupy our conscious thought. Also, hopeful goals typically have some uncertainty. At one end of certainty continuum—absolute certainty—are those goals with 100% probability of attainment; they do not necessitate hope. At the other end of the certainty continuum, the pursuance of truly untenable goals (0% probability of attainment) typically is counterproductive rather than being useful.
