Critical Matters The science of hope
May 29, 2025
Dr. Stephen Trzeciak, a physician-scientist and chief of medicine at Cooper University Health Care, dives into the transformative science of hope. He discusses how fostering hope can significantly improve patient outcomes, contrasting it with feelings of helplessness. The conversation explores Hope Theory, emphasizing personal agency and resilience in healthcare. Dr. Trzeciak also highlights how literature, like Viktor Frankl's writings, can inspire hope and gratitude, offering invaluable insights into the human experience during critical care.
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Hope Defined by Science
- Hope is a belief that the future will be better than the present and that you play a role in making it so.
- It involves goal setting, planning pathways, and the willpower to stay on course despite obstacles.
Hopelessness Crisis Today
- There is a current hopelessness crisis with 44% of American high school students feeling persistent hopelessness.
- This crisis leads to disengagement from life and a rise in deaths of despair like suicide and addiction.
Regoaling After Illness
- Regoaling means accepting a new reality when original goals are unreachable and finding meaning within it.
- Radical acceptance allows life to still be meaningful despite changed circumstances.
