The Oxford Handbook of Hope

Hope has long been a topic of interest for psychologists, philosophers, educators, and physicians. In the past few decades, researchers from various disciplines and from around the world have studied how hope relates to superior academic performance, improved outcomes in the workplace, and improved psychological and physical health in individuals of all ages. Edited by Matthew W. Gallagher and the late Shane J. Lopez, The Oxford Handbook of Hope provides readers with a thorough and comprehensive update on the past 25 years of hope research while simultaneously providing an outline of what leading hope researchers believe the future of this line of research to be.

In this extraordinary volume, Gallagher, Lopez, and their expert team of contributors discuss such topics as how best to define hope, how hope is distinguished from related philosophical and psychological constructs, what the current best practices are for measuring and quantifying hope, interventions and strategies for promoting hope across a variety of settings, the impact it has on physical and mental health, and the ways in which hope promotes positive functioning. Throughout its pages, these experts review what is currently known about hope and identify the topics and questions that will help guide the next decade of research ahead.

Matthew W. Gallagher is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Houston. He received his doctorate in clinical and quantitative psychology from the University of Kansas in 2011. His research focuses on the role of hope in promoting resilience to and recovery from emotional disorders, the development of novel treatments for emotional disorders, and the benefits of positive aspects of mental health.

Shane J. Lopez was a Gallup Senior Scientist and Research Director of the Clifton Strengths Institute. He published extensively, including Positive Psychology: The Scientific and Practical Explorations of Human Strengths, The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, Positive Psychological Assessment: A Handbook of Models and Measures, Positive Psychology: Exploring the Best in People, The Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology, and The Psychology of Courage: Modern Research on an Ancient Virtue. He was a fellow of the American Psychological Association and the International Positive Psychology Association.