The meaning of the future – Towards a more specific definition of possible selves.
(2007) In Review of General Psychology 11(4). p.348-358- Abstract
- Possible selves are traditionally
defined as conceptions of our selves in future
states. The author discusses the way the theory
is used in the literature and argues that there
is a need for a clearer definition, cecause there
appear to be a number of common
misinterpretations regarding possible selves.
Important features of possible selves are
discussed, in particular their nature as
experienced meaning, their relation with the rest
of the self-concept, and their social and
cultural nature. It is suggested that agency is
an important aspect of possible selves, and that
they can be seen as narratives. The... (More) - Possible selves are traditionally
defined as conceptions of our selves in future
states. The author discusses the way the theory
is used in the literature and argues that there
is a need for a clearer definition, cecause there
appear to be a number of common
misinterpretations regarding possible selves.
Important features of possible selves are
discussed, in particular their nature as
experienced meaning, their relation with the rest
of the self-concept, and their social and
cultural nature. It is suggested that agency is
an important aspect of possible selves, and that
they can be seen as narratives. The clearer
definition suggested is that possible selves are
conceptions of our selves in the future,
including, at least to some degree, an experience
of being an agent in a future situation. Possible
selves get vital parts of their meaning in
interplay with the self-concept which they in
turn moderate, as well as from their social and cultural context. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/642253
- author
- Erikson, Martin G. LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2007
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- experienced meaning, self-concept, agency, possible selves
- in
- Review of General Psychology
- volume
- 11
- issue
- 4
- pages
- 348 - 358
- publisher
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000251743800003
- scopus:38349165047
- ISSN
- 1089-2680
- DOI
- 10.1037/1089-2680.11.4.348
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- e4c2afd0-54ea-4a60-bfed-acf39d93488f (old id 642253)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 09:15:48
- date last changed
- 2022-03-07 23:48:43
@article{e4c2afd0-54ea-4a60-bfed-acf39d93488f,
abstract = {{Possible selves are traditionally <br/><br>
defined as conceptions of our selves in future <br/><br>
states. The author discusses the way the theory <br/><br>
is used in the literature and argues that there <br/><br>
is a need for a clearer definition, cecause there <br/><br>
appear to be a number of common <br/><br>
misinterpretations regarding possible selves. <br/><br>
Important features of possible selves are <br/><br>
discussed, in particular their nature as <br/><br>
experienced meaning, their relation with the rest <br/><br>
of the self-concept, and their social and <br/><br>
cultural nature. It is suggested that agency is <br/><br>
an important aspect of possible selves, and that <br/><br>
they can be seen as narratives. The clearer <br/><br>
definition suggested is that possible selves are <br/><br>
conceptions of our selves in the future, <br/><br>
including, at least to some degree, an experience <br/><br>
of being an agent in a future situation. Possible <br/><br>
selves get vital parts of their meaning in <br/><br>
interplay with the self-concept which they in <br/><br>
turn moderate, as well as from their social and cultural context.}},
author = {{Erikson, Martin G.}},
issn = {{1089-2680}},
keywords = {{experienced meaning; self-concept; agency; possible selves}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{4}},
pages = {{348--358}},
publisher = {{American Psychological Association (APA)}},
series = {{Review of General Psychology}},
title = {{The meaning of the future – Towards a more specific definition of possible selves.}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.11.4.348}},
doi = {{10.1037/1089-2680.11.4.348}},
volume = {{11}},
year = {{2007}},
}