A BRIEF REPORT ON HOPE IN PEACE AND WAR, AND IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD

The Hope Index is presented as a measure sensitive to significant cult ural changes. In this set of case studies, hope was measured in 1988, the weekend of the Gulf ground invasion in 1991, and in the recession of 1992. Hope for peace increased the weekend of the invasion of Iraq during the Gulf War in comparison to hope measured in 1988. Hope for p eace increased in college students, in their mothers, and in their fat hers. Hope for increased national productivity increased during the 19 92 recession, as well as during the Gulf invasion, but only for mother s and fathers. The increased hope and expectation of peace and increas ed hope and expectations for productivity are discussed in terms of a need theory of hope, the availability heuristic, and in terms of copin g strategies.