The Possible Selves
This section focuses on the Possible Selves Theory of Hazel Markus and Paula Nurius which refers to the different representations of the self derived from the past and the future. Possible selves are viewed as the positive aspects of the self that contribute to an individual’s motivations in his/her goals and present actions that will potentially lead into attaining desired and expected self outcomes in the future.
The Possible Selves Theory
While one lives in the present and is bounded by present circumstances, he/she has the capacity to make the right choices that will have consequences and repercussions for the future. The Possible Selves Theory has outlined 6 philosophical premises that are not only crucial to one’s full self-understanding but also vital in shaping one’s future.
Possible selves is both a motivtional resource and behavioral blueprint of the self. How one envisions himself/herself to be fuels his/her drive to achieve his/her plans for the future enables him or her to set specific short-term and long-term goals. Asidr from having these concrete goals and thoughts, people derive pleasure and satisfaction in making those plans, this further channeling behavior towards that end.
Not all future selves are positive. Future selves revolve around 3 ideas: what one might become (Ought-to selves), what one would like to become (Ideal or Hoped-for selves), and what one is afraid to become (Feared selves). Setting goals must be done realistically and in doing so, one needs to consider not only what he/she wants to become but also the possible negative outcome of his/her ambitions.
Onevs future self is intertwined with his/her past and present selves. Present situations enable one to think clearly of his/her options and the decisions he/she needs to take, which would bring him/her closer to his/her future goals. On the other hand, experiences also shape how one perceives the future because of enduring concerns or unfinished businesses that are brought to the present, and thus, may be a driving force to one’s future plans.
Future selves are a product of social interactions. How one’s future is foreseen is a product of social contexts: family, peers and colleagues, schools and other institutions, the society, and the digital world. The technological landscaoe the millenials are exposed to (via social media, web applications, technology-driven resources) has shaped their future ambitions in determining the digital legacy they want to leave behind.
This premise lies in life transitions that have an enabling influence on one’s future selves. When there are changes in one’s present life circumstances (e.g., entering a new grade level, transferring to a new school, shifting to a new course, experiencing changes in family situations, etc.), there will also be changes to how future life perspectives are viewed. However, people are not passive recipients of these changes with human agency, an individual is able to effect those changes for his/her future.
The last premise is based on the concepts of proximal and distal goals. People are more motivated to work on goals thag are more immediate than those which are not. Thus, some students lay down simple steps and concrete plans in ensuring their goals are achieved. Setting short-term (by term, semester, year) and long-term goals (by 5 years, 10 years) is one way of ensuring that their future self is fulfilled.
Based on the premises laid out above, the future self is not a possibility that is out of one’s hands. Having a clear vision of the future planning and weighing present options, and making the right choices can lead to an optimistic future. Thus, one has the power and agency to shape his/her future, while living in the present.