Hope in Exploration

In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa of Nepal, attempted to conquer the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest (National Geographic, 2013). They faced treacherous weather conditions, high altitudes, and challenging terrain. Yet, in a remarkable showing of human perseverance, they reached Everest’s top on May 29, 1953, the first to ever do it. Hillary and Tenzing are few of numerous explorers that have attempted to reach the farthest corners of the Earth. These journeys carry the burden of uncertainty and extreme physical challenge, without any guarantee of success. What motivates explorers to embark on such audacious and risky endeavors? There is no simple answer to this question. Yet, there exists a common attribute among these adventurers that could provide insight into the matter: hope. Extensive research has been done on hope in the field of psychology, most notably by Charles Snyder (1994). My interpretation of hope is largely inspired by Snyder’s hope theory. Hope, as I see it, is the belief in the possibility of achieving a goal. It compromises four components: values, self-efficacy (Bandura, 1997), internal locus of control (Rotter, 1966), and realistic optimism (Seligman, 1990). This set of elements fuel the spirit of the explorer.

Values are the core principles and beliefs important to an individual. They serve as the foundation for setting and pursuing goals. If someone has set their goal to explore, there are values that lie behind it. These may be intrinsic, such as curiosity, adventure, and bravery, or extrinsic, such as wealth, nationalism, and prestige. However, there are many obstacles that can stand in the way. Exploration often involves confronting harsh weather conditions, extended periods of travel, the risk of starvation, and exposure to diseases. In addition, there is an emotional challenge of leaving behind family and friends, with the uncertainty of ever seeing them again. Explorers differ from one another, from their motives and drives to their methods of planning. But one thing is certain: For them, the reasons to explore outweigh the reasons to stay. They maintain hope in the face of adversity.

Certainly, having a goal is the first step in exploration. However, you must also believe that you can attain that goal. The belief in one’s ability to perform specific tasks was researched by the pioneer in social-cognitive perspective on personality Albert Bandura, which he named self-efficacy (Bandura, 1997). It is a crucial component of hope because it bridges the gap between having an aspiration and the actual pursuit of that aspiration. Self-efficacy is the internal assurance that you have the skills and knowledge to overcome the obstacles that may arise on your path.

Imagine a navigator who is highly skilled, confident, and believes in their ability to navigate. This individual has high self-efficacy. However, they believe that their success is attributed to favorable weather. In other words, external factors play a significant role in the success of the navigation. Suddenly, a dilemma arises: The navigator has been offered to embark on an expedition to an undiscovered territory. Although capable of completing such a task, they are  held back by the belief that bad weather is inevitable and that it will dictate the outcome of the expedition. Julian Rotter, the founder of the social-cognitive perspective on personality, defines the person in this example to have an external locus of control: the attribution of external factors to one’s success or failure (Rotter, 1966). To set sail, the navigator must believe that their decisions have a bigger force than the weather conditions. It is critical to cultivate an internal locus of control, attributing internal factors to success or failure. 

Furthermore, the degree of optimism someone possesses determines whether they will explore or not. In the previous example, the navigator has a valid argument. Most failed expeditions are attributable to storms or other natural forces, and uncontrollable incidents, like illness. However, believing that the weather will inevitably be bad is unrealistically negative. The navigator is an example of a pessimist (Seligman, 1990). Pessimism is associated with a negative outlook and expecting the worst outcomes. Pessimists might foresee an obstacle, but they do not foresee themselves finding a way around that obstacle. As a result, they feel hopeless and never try in the first place. 

A second navigator steps in, claiming to be invulnerable and protected from any misfortune. For that reason, the expedition will be successful. According to psychodynamic theory, this individual is said to be a defensive optimist. Defensive optimism is characterized by unrealistic, self-delusional forms of optimism that can provide short-term benefits but may also result in serious harm (Dunning et al., 2004). Instead of acknowledging the challenges and taking necessary precautions, defensive optimists believe that success is inevitable. This mindset may put the navigator and crew in great danger by embarking on a senseless journey. 

A third navigator enters the picture. This navigator claims to be fully aware of the possibility of harsh weather. Extensive planning and training have been made to make sure that the crew is equipped and prepared in the event of a storm. This individual believes that preparation, resilience, and hard work will lead to success. According to Martin Seligman, famous psychologist for his work on optimism, the third navigator is said to be a realistic optimist (Seligman, 1990), due to the positive outlook of the situation while simultaneously addressing the potential challenges. Realistic optimists do not ignore reality. They are aware that no matter how much extensive planning or preparation you do, some explorations are simply not possible. They embark on the journeys they know are attainable and remain mindful of the challenges they will face. As a result, they take the necessary precautions to maximize their chances of success. This combination of realism and optimism is the source of their potential success.

Values, self-efficacy, internal locus of control, and realistic optimism – the components of hope – all play a key part in exploration. Nonetheless, hope is not a guarantee of success. Many explorers have done extensive planning and preparation but failed. Hope was simply the mindset that guided them through the journey’s twists and turns. It is a mindset that goes beyond exploration. It applies to all aspects of life, and it applies to all of us. Whatever ambitions you may possess, hope will keep you moving forward during tough times. You may fail. You may succeed. But you will never know unless you try.