Academic Achievement, Motivation and Future Selves

Abstract

Summary The study examined the relation between possible selves, academic performance, motivation, self‐esteem and persistence on task. The assumption was that envisioning a desired end‐state produces information processing favouring the desired state and, as a consequence, the action seems more likely and people are able to construct more efficient plans. We hypothesized that academic performance is best for subjects who are able to produce well‐elaborated, vivid pictures of future selves. The sample consisted of 289 students, 14 and 15 years old, of both sexes. The statistical analysis revealed that those who endorsed specific, elaborated positive selves outperformed the other groups in academic achievement. There was also indication that this group of students showed more persistence on task. The results are discussed in terms of their importance for the motivational role of possible selves in achievement situations.