Virtuous Hope: Moral Exemplars, Hope Theory, and the Centrality of Adversity and Support

Psychology has primarily studied hope as a value-neutral trait even though it has a history of being counted among the virtues. The current study seeks to conceptualize hope as a virtue while building on the dominant empirical paradigm (Hope Theory; Snyder, 2002). Ithemba is the isiZulu word for hope, and this qualitative study investigated the lived experiences and meaning construction of ithemba/hope among 13 nominated moral exemplars in a South African township. Participants ranged from 20 to 75+, including farmers, educators, caregivers, entrepreneurs, and construction workers. Independent coders conducted thematic analysis from a theoretical top-down process (within Hope Theory and virtue science frameworks) and an inductive bottom-up approach (open coding). Data reflected much of the existing Hope Theory model; however, many pathways were relational and spiritual, and goals were inherently beneficial to others. A virtue science framework was used to construct the cognitive, motivational, and behavioral dimensions of virtuous hope. This study constructed the operational definition of virtuous hope as the ardent pursuit of realizing a particular vision of the common good with intention and action, often growing out of adversity and shaped in relation to other people and the transcendent.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41042-022-00083-1.