Thinking Clearly Versus Frequently About the Future Self: Exploring This Distinction and its Relation to Possible Selves

McElwee, Rory O'Brien; Haugh, Jim A.

doi:10.1080/15298860903054290

Cited by 34 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 42 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For Levitt (2003), determining the primary motivational source of WLD may be central to the successful treatment and prevention of eating pathology. With this in mind, we seek to examine the relative impact of the hoped-for, thin body and the feared, overweight body on WLD motivation using two characteristic differences in the way people think about the future self: how similar, or how subjectively close, a person believes he or she is to a possible self and the availability of a possible self (McElwee & Haugh, 2010;Norman & Aron, 2003). Subjective distance from a possible self is an important moderator of the impact of a particular feared or hoped-for future self (Carver, Lawrence, & Scheier, 1999;Higgins, Bond, Klein, & Strauman, 1986;Strahan and Wilson, 2006).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Availability or elaboration (from here-on called availability) refers to the level of detail with which a possible self can be described (McElwee & Haugh, 2010;Norman & Aron, 2003). It is thought that a greater availability of a possible self enhances approach-avoidance motivation because a more detailed possible self increases the expectancy of its acquisition (Sherman et al, 1985).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The motivation to diet in young women: Fear is stronger than hope

Dalley

Buunk

2011

Euro J Social Psych

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This research examined the relative impact of a hoped-for, thin body and a feared, overweight body on weight-loss dieting (WLD) motivation. We hypothesised that the women most motivated to engage in WLD would report a higher similarity to, and a higher cognitive availability of, a feared, overweight body. In study 1, WLD motivation was operationalized as WLD intention and in study 2 as a food choice (chocolate bar versus low-fat snack bar). As expected, those most similar to the feared body and who had a highly available overweight body had the greatest intention to engage in WLD, and were more likely to choose a lowfat snack over a chocolate bar. The implications of our findings for future research as well as the development of eating pathology in college women are discussed.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The motivation to diet in young women: Fear is stronger than hope

Dalley

Buunk

2011

Euro J Social Psych

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Past research has not systematically explored the determinants of a balanced temporal perspective and has sometimes overlooked the possibility of a reciprocal, rather than inhibitory, relationship between some of these perspectives. The notion of future clarity (McElwee & Haugh, ), when underpinned by the meaning maintenance model (Heine, Proulx, & Vohs, ) and the concepts of seizing and freezing (Kruglanski & Webster, ), can overcome these shortfalls. This account uncovers an approach that can be applied to foster mindfulness and consideration of future consequences simultaneously.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…McElwee and Haugh () delineated and validated the notion of future clarity. Specifically, they developed a measure of future clarity that measures the degree to which individuals perceive their future as vivid and likely rather than hazy and uncertain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specifically, they developed a measure of future clarity that measures the degree to which individuals perceive their future as vivid and likely rather than hazy and uncertain. Studies show that individuals who experience future clarity tend to report a range of benefits, such as meaning in life (McElwee & Haugh, ). Presumably, when their future is vivid and certain, individuals can more readily appreciate how their activities now are germane to their future.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The relationship between an orientation to the future and an orientation to the past: The role of future clarity

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Some research shows that people who often contemplate their future tend to be healthier. Yet the burgeoning literature on mindfulness demonstrates that people who are more attuned to their immediate experiences also enjoy many benefits. To reconcile these principles, many scholars recommend that people should distribute their attention, somewhat evenly, across the past, present, and future-but have not clarified how people should achieve this goal. We test the possibility that people who perceive their future as vivid and certain, called future clarity, might be able to both orient their attention to the future as well as experience mindfulness. Specifically, future clarity could diminish the inclination of people to reach decisions prematurely and dismiss information that contradicts these decisions, called need for closure-tendencies that diminish consideration of future consequences and mindfulness, respectively. In this cross-sectional study, 194 participants completed measures of mindfulness, consideration of future consequences, need for closure, and future clarity. Consistent with hypotheses, future clarity was positively associated with both mindfulness and consideration of future consequences. Need for closure partly mediated these relationships. Accordingly, interventions that empower people to shape and to clarify their future might generate the benefits of both mindfulness and a future orientation.

show abstract