Possible and Impossible selves: a conceptual framework

Abstract

A developed concept of the Possible self reflects the need for a closer investigation of the desires, fears, possibilities and cognitive representations related to man’s future. The motivational aspect of the construct, which can affect behavior, is emphasized by the concept of agency. According to the authors, agency can be defined as the ability to develop, maintain and expand Possible selves and is characterized by personality causality, self-regulation and control. This mechanism allows a person to decide if the selected possible image will be one to attain or to avoid. Regardless of the proactive mechanisms of Possible selves, there are situations when personality possibilities can be experienced as “impossibilities”. The phenomenon of Impossible selves was introduced in the previous empirical work of the authors and now is further theoretically elaborated within this article. The Impossible self is a manifestation of the significant Possible self, which is influenced by rumination and neuroticism, and is correlated with higher levels of negative affect and self-accusation. The unconstructive phenomena of self-reflection apparently restrain the energy of wanted Possible selves, which are normally used to facilitate motivation. The assessments of different aspects of Possible selves and personality traits were not influenced by the specific content of the possibilities, demonstrating the universal nature of the observed phenomenon. We discuss the possibilities for operationalization and the theoretical background of the construct. The conceptual framework of Impossible selves emerges from (1) the general interest for the modality of “possible” in personality psychology; (2) the core theory of Possible selves; (3) the motivational potential of the Possible selves reflected in the concept of “agency”.