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Possible Selves across the Life Span
Abstract
Possible selves have been defined as personalized representations of one’s self in future states. In a study described in this article, respondents between the ages of 18 and 86 years were asked to describe their hoped-for and feared possible selves. Differences were found across age groups in the categories of possible selves mentioned most frequently and in respondents’ evaluations of these possible selves. Moreover, respondents scoring low in life satisfaction generated different possible selves than those high in life satisfaction. Possible selves are conceptualized as psychological resources that are instrumental in motivating and defending the self in the course of adult development.
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Cited by
Belief and feeling: Evidence for an accessibility model of emotional self-report.
Robinson, M. D., & Clore, G. L. (2002) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.128.6.934 · Cited by 1,806
A motivational theory of life-span development.
Heckhausen, J., Wrosch, C., & Schulz, R. (2010) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/a0017668 · Cited by 1,486
Interest and Self-Sustained Learning as Catalysts of Development: A Learning Ecology Perspective
Barron, B. (2006) · Human Development · doi:10.1159/000094368 · Cited by 964
A developmental-contextual model of couples coping with chronic illness across the adult life span.
Berg, C. A., & Upchurch, R. (2007) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.133.6.920 · Cited by 877
The Life-Course Dynamics of Goal Pursuit and Goal Adjustment: A Two-Process Framework
Brandtstädter, J., & Rothermund, K. (2002) · Developmental Review · doi:10.1006/drev.2001.0539 · Cited by 815
Metadata
- Authors
- Cross, S., & Markus, H.
- Venue
- Human Development
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2010-01-15
- Pages
- 230-255
- ISSN
- 0018-716X (ISSN-L)
- 1423-0054
- OpenAlex
- W2083495026
- Cited by
- 686
- References
- 0
- FWCI
- 65.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- karger.com/pages/terms-and-conditions (vor)
- karger.com/pages/terms-and-conditions (tdm)
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