Perceiving a Stable Self-Concept Enables the Experience of Meaning in Life

Abstract

We test the hypothesis that the perception of stability in one’s self-concept (i.e., future self-continuity) enables the experience of meaning in life because perceiving a stable sense of self confers a sense of certainty to the self-concept. Study 1 provided initial evidence of the influence of future self-continuity on feelings of meaning in life (MIL) in a nationally representative sample. In Studies 2a and 2b, we manipulated future self-continuity by varying the expectedness of one’s future self, demonstrating the causal influence of future self-continuity on self-certainty and feelings of MIL. Study 3 again manipulated future self-continuity, finding an indirect effect on feelings of meaning in life via self-certainty. Our findings thus suggest the experience of meaning in life arises from the perception of a stable sense of self. We discuss the implications for the antecedents and conceptualization of MIL as well as the nature of the self-concept.

Future self‐continuity and depression among college students: The role of presence of meaning and perceived social support

“…However, the discontinuity between the future and present selves reduces the subjective well‐being of college students and threatens their level of presence of meaning (Zhang & Chen, 2018). Thus, future self‐continuity positively predicts presence of meaning, which is consistent with previous findings (Chu & Lowery, 2023).…”

“…A large body of research provides evidence for future self-continuity enhancing the presence of meaning. For example, Chu and Lowery (2023) demonstrated across three studies that individuals who link their future self more closely to their present self have higher levels of presence of meaning. Additionally, the relationship between the different dimensions of future self-continuity and the presence of meaning was confirmed.…”

“…Based on the cognitive theory of depression, future self‐continuity, which serves as an indicator of the consistency of self‐perceptions over time (Chu & Lowery, 2023), is a significant factor influencing depression (Beck, 1987). Research suggests that future self‐continuity can enable individuals to effectively cope with stress during periods of identity instability, thereby reducing depression levels (Martin‐Storey et al, 2021; Sadeh & Karniol, 2012).…”

Self-essentialist reasoning underlies the similarity-attraction effect.

“…Our insight that self-essentialist reasoning shapes how we see others extends upon the emerging literature on self-essentialism by highlighting the interpersonal implications of this lay theory of self. The extant work has primarily discussed self-essentialism as a private (and relatively asocial) affair, emphasizing its role in reducing uncertainty in one’s perception of reality and its implications on intra personal outcomes such as subjective well-being (Christy et al, 2019; Chu & Lowery, 2023; Dulaney et al, 2019). The present work extends on this body of literature by directly examining how self-essentialism influences social perception.…”

“…Moreover, these attitudes and behaviors should remain stable given the immutable nature of an essence—to suddenly become Kim’s prodeath penalty metalhead friend would to no longer be a person like me . The extant research has primarily explored how such self-essentialist beliefs foster intrapersonal well-being by serving as an uncertainty-reducing reasoning heuristic through which to understand social reality (e.g., Christy et al, 2019; Chu & Lowery, 2023; Dulaney et al, 2019; although see Maffly-Kipp et al, 2022; Newman et al, 2014). In other words, this work has emphasized self-essentialist reasoning as a way of thinking that creates the feeling of confidence and certainty in one’s grasp upon social reality, resulting in psychological well-being.…”