Reménytelenség

Reménytelenség is a Hungarian term referring to a psychological and emotional state characterized by a perceived lack of hope for future improvement. It involves feelings of futility, pessimism about outcomes, and a diminished sense of agency, and can occur as part of broader mood or anxiety disorders, or as a response to sustained adversity. While it shares features with despair, reménytelenség specifically centers on expected absence of positive change rather than a general mood.

Etymology and usage: the word combines remény (hope) with telenség (lessness), reflecting its literal meaning. In everyday language, as well as in clinical psychology, philosophy, and literature, reménytelenség is used to describe both individual and collective experiences of stagnation or bleak outlooks.

Causes and contexts: prolonged stressors such as unemployment, chronic illness, trauma, political oppression, social isolation, or ongoing failure can contribute to reménytelenség. Cognitive appraisal plays a role, as individuals assess control over circumstances and whether action can alter outcomes. Cultural and historical contexts can intensify or mitigate its perception.

Consequences and coping: reménytelenség can reduce motivation, problem-solving effort, and social engagement, potentially increasing vulnerability to depressive symptoms. Coping approaches include social support, psychotherapy (for example cognitive-behavioral or existential approaches), meaning-making, and setting small, attainable goals. In clinical settings, hopelessness is sometimes assessed with standardized instruments, such as the Beck Hopelessness Scale, to gauge the intensity of negative expectations about the future.

See also: hopelessness, despair, depression, resilience.