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Cited by 229Crime Patterns and InterventionsPsychological and Temporal Perspectives ResearchChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Possible Selves in Balance: Implications for Delinquency

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Oyserman, Daphna, Markus, Hazel·1990·Journal of Social Issues
DOI 10.1111/j.1540-4560.1990.tb01927.x
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Abstract

An approach to the initiation, maintenance, and cessation of delinquency is outlined in which an adolescent's possible selves play a pivotal role. Possible selves are the individual's self‐relevant expectations for the future. They include what a person hopes to become, expects to become, and fears that he or she might become. With respect to action control, a particularly important aspect of adolescents' configuration of possible selves is the balance between their expected possible selves and their feared possible selves. Balance occurs when expected possible selves (e.g., “I will get a good job”) are offset by countervailing feared possible selves in the same domain (e.g., “I could be unemployed and on the street”). Without balance between expected and feared selves in important domains, both the initiation and the maintenance of delinquent activity are more likely. The dynamic interaction between the social environment, expectations of the self, and delinquency involvement is highlighted.

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  • The balance between hoped-for and feared selves in the same domain describes how motivated individuals are in terms of achieving their future selves.

    “It has been noted that the balance between hoped-for and feared selves in the same domain describes how motivated individuals are in terms of achieving their future selves (Oyserman and Markus 1990; Oyserman, Bybee, Terry and Hart-Johnson 2004).”

    From The change in pre-service primary teachers’ possible selves in relation to science teaching (2022) · cites this paper as Oyserman and Markus 1990

    The overview (p. 8) says a possible self has maximal motivational effectiveness when balanced by a countervailing self in the same domain. But the paper's formulation centers on positive expected selves balanced by feared selves; the overview (p. 8) distinguishes hoped-for selves that may not be viewed as attainable. Thus the motivational point is supported, but the claim's substitution of hoped-for selves for expected selves is imprecise. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Motivation for pursuing the hoped-for selves and avoiding the feared selves is, after all, likely to occur.

    “This suggests that motivation for pursuing the hoped-for selves and avoiding the feared selves is, after all, likely to occur (Markus and Nurius 1986; Oyserman and Markus 1990).”

    From The change in pre-service primary teachers’ possible selves in relation to science teaching (2022) · cites this paper as Oyserman and Markus 1990

    The overview (p. 8) describes possible selves as incentives for approaching desired futures and avoiding feared ones. But it distinguishes hoped-for selves, which may be fantasies viewed as unattainable, from attainable positive selves and says motivation is strongest when positive and feared selves are balanced. It therefore does not support the unqualified suggestion that motivation to pursue hoped-for selves is likely to occur. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Oyserman, D., & Markus, H.
Affiliations
  • Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL)
  • University of Michigan (US)
Corresponding author
Markus, Hazel
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Social Issues
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1990-07
Volume
46
Issue
2
Pages
141-157
ISSN
  • 0022-4537 (ISSN-L)
  • 1540-4560
DOI
10.1111/j.1540-4560.1990.tb01927.x
OpenAlex
W2030691996
Cited by
229
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 16
FWCI
8.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 7227 d)
Locations
  • Journal of Social Issues (publishedVersion)
  • Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Psychological and Temporal Perspectives Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
possible selves, juvenile delinquency, adolescent self-concept, action control, social environment, self-expectations

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