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A test of a triadic conceptualization of future self-identification

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Listed:
  • Michael T Bixter
  • Samantha L McMichael
  • Cameron J Bunker
  • Robert Mark Adelman
  • Morris A Okun
  • Kevin J Grimm
  • Oliver Graudejus
  • Virginia S Y Kwan

Abstract

People encounter intertemporal decisions every day and often engage in behaviors that are not good for their future. One factor that may explain these decisions is the perception of their distal future self. An emerging body of research suggests that individuals vary in how they perceive their future self and many perceive their future self as a different person. The present research aimed to (1) build on and extend Hershfield’s et al. (2011) review of the existing literature and advance the conceptualization of the relationship between the current and future self, (2) extend and develop measures of this relationship, and (3) examine whether and how this relationship predicts intrapsychic and achievement outcomes. The results of the literature review suggested that prior research mostly focused on one or two of the following components: (a) perceived relatedness between the current and future self in terms of similarity and connectedness, (b) vividness in imagining the future self, and (c) degree of positivity felt toward the future self. Additionally, differences in how researchers have labeled the overall construct lead us to propose future self-identification as a new label for the three-component construct. Our research built on existing measures to test the validity of a three-component model of future self-identification. Across three samples of first-year undergraduates, this research established the psychometric properties of the measure, and then examined the relationships between the components and four outcome domains of interest: (1) psychological well-being (self-esteem, hope), (2) imagination of the future (visual imagery of future events, perceived temporal distance), (3) self-control, and (4) academic performance. We demonstrated that the three components of future self-identification were correlated but independent factors. Additionally, the three components differed in their unique relationships with the outcome domains, demonstrating the utility of measuring all three components of future self-identification when seeking to predict important psychological and behavioral outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael T Bixter & Samantha L McMichael & Cameron J Bunker & Robert Mark Adelman & Morris A Okun & Kevin J Grimm & Oliver Graudejus & Virginia S Y Kwan, 2020. "A test of a triadic conceptualization of future self-identification," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-39, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0242504
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242504
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Davide Pietroni & Sibylla Verdi Hughes, 2016. "Nudge to the future: capitalizing on illusory superiority bias to mitigate temporal discounting," Mind & Society: Cognitive Studies in Economics and Social Sciences, Springer;Fondazione Rosselli, vol. 15(2), pages 247-264, November.
    2. Daniel M. Bartels & Oleg Urminsky, 2015. "To Know and to Care: How Awareness and Valuation of the Future Jointly Shape Consumer Spending," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 41(6), pages 1469-1485.
    3. Xiuping Li & Meng Zhang, 2014. "The Effects of Heightened Physiological Needs on Perception of Psychological Connectedness," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 41(4), pages 1078-1088.
    4. Daniel M. Bartels & Oleg Urminsky, 2011. "On Intertemporal Selfishness: How the Perceived Instability of Identity Underlies Impatient Consumption," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 38(1), pages 182-198.
    5. Nathan D. Martin & Kenneth I. Spenner & Sarah A. Mustillo, 2017. "A Test of Leading Explanations for the College Racial-Ethnic Achievement Gap: Evidence from a Longitudinal Case Study," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 58(6), pages 617-645, September.
    6. Xiuping Li & Meng Zhang, 2014. "The Effects of Heightened Physiological Needs on Perception of Psychological Connectedness," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 41(4), pages 1078-1088.
    7. Hershfield, Hal E. & Cohen, Taya R. & Thompson, Leigh, 2012. "Short horizons and tempting situations: Lack of continuity to our future selves leads to unethical decision making and behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 117(2), pages 298-310.
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