Abstract
Beliefs in the futureisan internalization of hope and optimism about future outcomes. This chapter reviews and compares several theories of hope and optimism, and highlights the features constituting beliefs in the future. This chapter points out that beliefs in the future includes a series of goal-directed thoughts and motivation, such as setting up valued and attainable goals, planning pathways, and maintaining self-confidence and mastery, so as to keep adolescentsengaged in the pursuit of goals. This kind of personal mastery, together with socio-cultural values, family, school and peers are the antecedents leading to beliefs in the future, which is related to adolescents' well-being and positive development. In order to cultivate adolescents' beliefs in the future, enabling their ability to manipulate goal-directed thoughts and motivation, and providing a supportive environment including their family, school, peers and the society, are recommended.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Positive Youth Development |
| Subtitle of host publication | Theory, Research and Application |
| Publisher | Nova Science Publishers, Inc. |
| Pages | 13-26 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781620813058 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2012 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Social Sciences