hope

n. the expectation that one will have positive experiences or that a potentially threatening or negative situation will not materialize or will ultimately result in a favorable state of affairs. Hope has been characterized in the psychological literature in various ways, including as a character strength; an emotion; a component of motivation that is critical to goal attainment; a mechanism that facilitates coping with loss, illness, and other significant stresses; or an integrated combination of these features. See also optimism. —hopeful adj.

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Psychology term of the day

October 18th 2024

social imperception disorder

a condition characterized by a lack of awareness of common social interaction processes and interpersonal behaviors and by difficulty in recognizing and understanding other people’s feelings and emotions.