Hope in the Age of Anxiety

The Definitive Guide to Hope
by Anthony Scioli, Ph.D. and Henry Biller, Ph.D.
Oxford University Press
Available: July, 2009

Hope. What is this thing which "perches in the soul" and "never stops at all"? What is this "waking dream"? Psychologists and philosophers as well as poets and healers have been pondering this question for over two thousand years. If you share a passion for hope. If you would like to know what hope is, where it comes from, how it develops, and why it sometimes fades, then you have found the right place. Gainhope.com is a site devoted to a better understanding of hope.

My name is Dr. Anthony Scioli. I am a clinical psychologist who has been studying hope for more than a decade. My goal has been to develop a general theory of hope that will combine the best insights of scientists and philosophers as well as poets and writers, and weave them into one large interdisciplinary tapestry.

For the past several years I have been working with another clinical psychologist, Dr. Henry Biller, on a hope book for the general public. Our aim is to provide a resource that is both scientifically grounded as well as practically useful. Dr. Biller and I share a longstanding interest in positive human development. As scholar-practitioners, we are able to draw on a considerable body of research that we have accumulated over the years, as well as our personal experiences as clinicians helping adults, children, and families.

Our message is a simple one - hope matters. In fact, it can be argued that the most profound expressions of the human spirit derive from hope. The greatest works of art and the best books as well as the most enduring wonders of the ancient world, as well as the Olympics, Baseball, and Soccer - all of these human achievements share a common denominator- they bring more hope into the world.

You will find six types of information on this site.

• Take the Hope Test to discover your current level of hope (state hope) as well as your long-term capacity for maintaining a hopeful outlook (trait hope).
• The Book page is a brief summary of the contents that will be included in our upcoming publication for the general public, Hope in the Age of Anxiety.
• About the Authors is a summary of my credentials as well as those of Dr. Biller. There is also contact information if you wish to write or send an email.
• Hope Lessons are short summaries of our book chapters. Each page typically begins with a case example or a quote that captures the spirit of a particular hope-related issue. The middle section consists of a brief hope lesson and a list of the topics that we cover in our book. At the end of each page you will find a hope tip (an exercise, self-test, or a bit of research-based advice).
• Why Oprah Loves Steinbeck is for fans of the arts, film, and classic literature. You can learn about the hope content in East of Eden and Great Expectations as well as one of van Gogh's most famous paintings and the greatest romantic films.
• The Research Archives is for those who are interested in the research and science of hope. You can access the entire contents of several studies I have conducted about hope, including the research that went into developing the Hope Test.

Hope Tip #1: Take the Hope Test

At this point I recommend that you go to the next webpage and take one or both parts of the Hope Test.