Identity motives underlying desired and feared possible future selves.
Desired and feared possible future selves are important motivators of behavior and provide a temporal context for self-evaluation. Yet little research has examined why people desire some possible selves and fear others. In two studies, we tested the reflection of identity motives for self-esteem, efficacy, meaning, continuity, belonging, and distinctiveness in people's desired and feared possible future selves and in their possible future identity structures. As predicted, participants desired especially those possible futures in which motives for self-esteem, efficacy, meaning, and continuity would be satisfied, and they feared especially those in which the same four motives and, marginally, the motive for distinctiveness would be frustrated. Analyses supported an indirect path from belonging via self-esteem to desire and fear. Desired and feared possible future selves reflect potential satisfaction and frustration of these identity motives.
Vignoles
Vivian L
VL
Department of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK.
Manzi
Claudia
C
Regalia
Camillo
C
Jemmolo
Simone
S
Scabini
Eugenia
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003469:Culture; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D005639:Frustration; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D007206:Individuality; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010553:Personality Development; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012928:Social Desirability; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult