and empowerment

[KLPNO]

Hello everyone.

From the book Psychology of Hope by Charles Snyder.

From the mouths of babes, I thought after listening to Mandy, my toddler-age neighbor. She was an unexpected messenger bearing news about the makeup of hope. My guess is that she was a little under three years old when she first began talking with me.

What did we talk about in those days? What seemed to interest Mandy, of course, was Mandy. She recounted a growing sense of mastery over her world. One day, Mandy was listing the things that she could do. You know, little kid things like talking, hollering, walking, jumping, using the potty, and so on. She was full of the “I can’s” as her mind exuded energy, excitement, and empowerment. From the beginning, I liked her spunk.

Am I correct in thinking that "empowerment" means something close to enthusiasm or inspiration in this context?

 

[emsr2d2]

Am I correct in thinking that "empowerment" means something close to enthusiasm or inspiration in this context?

Have you found a dictionary that lists either of those as a possible definition of "empowerment"?

 

[KLPNO]

Have you found a dictionary that lists either of those as a possible definition of "empowerment"?

Well, I don't think it's the standard use of empowermet, because, according to the dictionaries:

empowerment noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of empowerment noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

1. the act of giving somebody more control over their own life or the situation they are in

• female/black/personal empowerment
• the empowerment of the individual

2. (formal) the act of giving somebody the power or authority to do something

empowerment

Definition, Synonyms, Translations of empowerment by The Free Dictionary

www.thefreedictionary.com

1. To invest with power, especially legal power or official authority. See Synonyms at authorize.
2. To equip or supply with an ability; enable: "Computers ... empower students to become intellectual explorers" (Edward B. Fiske).
em·pow′er·ment n.

So, enthusiasm/inspiration is my contextual interpretation.

 

[jutfrank]

1. the act of giving somebody more control over their own life or the situation they are in

Exactly this.

As the child develops, she gains power ("mastery") over her world and the things in it. Not only is she more able, but more confident too.