APPLYING EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY TO HOPE: CONCEPTUALIZING HOPE AS AN EVOLVED PSYCHOLOGICAL MECHANISM

Hope has been mostly studied from the field of cognitive behavioral psychology. Other disciplines including clinical and positive psychology, philosophy, psychiatry, and nursing have also significantly contributed to the current hope literature. The results of this research has linked hope to a number of positive variables including resilience, motivation, and well-being. Despite growing evidence that hope is a significant component of goal pursuit, promoting survival, and problem-solving, the evolutionary origins of hope remain largely unexplored. This thesis proposes that hope can be conceptualized as an evolved psychological mechanism that influences goal directed behavior and coping in uncertain situations. Drawing from Erikson’s psychosocial theory, Snyder’s hope model, and findings from empirical hope-related research; this review integrates developmental, cognitive, and evolutionary perspectives to examine how hope contributes to adaptive problem-solving and individual fitness. Evidence from adverse experiences, attachment, physical and mental health, and goal attainment suggest that hope functions to support goal pursuit, survival, and long-term well-being. By reviewing the current literature, this thesis aims to identify challenges that impede the progress of hope-related research. Furthermore, reframing hope as an adaptive response shaped by environmental influences may offer a unifying theoretical approach that links individual experiences of hope with its potential evolutionary function. Implications for future research to expand evolutionary perspectives and hope related research are also discussed.