Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
Short bio:
Allan B.I. Bernardo is Distinguished University Professor and University Fellow at De La Salle University, Philippines. He maintains an active research program related to four broad themes: (a) polyculturalism and intergroup relations in intercultural contexts, (b) hope, well-being and mental health, (c) socioeconomic and other social inequalities, and (d) sociocultural aspects of learning and achievement. Since he completed his PhD from Yale University, he has published close to 300 journal articles, books chapters, and monographs from his research. He has served as President of the Asian Association of Social Psychology, President of the ASEAN Regional Union of Psychological Societies, Chairperson of the Philippine Social Science Council, and President of the Psychological Association of the Philippines. He served as Chief Editor of two SSCI- and SCOPUS-listed journals: Asian Journal of Social Psychology (2018-2020) and DLSU’s The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher (2001-2012). He has received international recognition for his research: International Prize for Literacy Research (UNESCO Institute for Education), Spencer Fellowship in Education Research (US National Academy of Education), and Fulbright Advanced Research Fellowship. In the Philippines, he was awarded The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM), the Achievement Award by the National Research Council of the Philippines, Outstanding Psychologist by the Psychological Association of the Philippines, Outstanding Professional Psychologist by the Professional Regulations Commission, among others. He was elected Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology in 2007, and Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries in 2023, becoming the first Filipino social scientist elected to the merit-based science academy.
Title:
Caravans of Hope: Locus-of-Hope Dimensions are Associated with Well-Being and Positive Social Processes
Abstract:
Hope theory defines hope as cognitions associated with one’s pathways and capacities for achieving one’s important goals. The locus-of-hope of model distinguishes between disjoint vs. conjoint models of agency that underlie internal vs. external loci-of-hope. External loci-of-hope dimensions highlight the role of significant others and external forces in goal pursuit and are assumed to be important in societies that have strong collectivist interdependent self-construal norms. This keynote speech summarizes research in various Asian and North American societies. In particular, the keynote speech will summarize research on (a) the validity of the four-factor locus-of-hope construct, (b) the distinct correlates of internal and external locus-of-hope dimensions with well-being and lower psychological distress, (c) the associations between locus-of-hope dimensions beyond well-being, particularly in the domains of learning, interpersonal relations, and political/civic participation. The keynote speech will highlight some of the studies on locus-of-hope and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a recent RCT showing the efficacy of a locus-of-hope intervention in enhancing benefits of therapeutic communities. The keynote speech will highlight the theoretical propositions regarding how the different locus-of-hope dimensions function in a compensatory manner as resources for maintaining well-being, and how different cultures sanction conjoint forms of agency to support hopeful thoughts and goal pursuit.