The Consequences of Quality and Quantity of Downward Revisions in Possible Selves on Revisions in Core Selves

Abstract

Two separate longitudinal studies tested the effect of perceived quality as well as quantity of downward revisions in past possible selves on broader revisions in the evaluation of core selves. As predicted, Study 1 showed that perceived quality had a unique independent and interactive effect with quantity of downward revisions in past possible selves on revisions in self-esteem three months later. Study 2 extended Study 1 using a new measure of quality to replicate the unique effect of perceived quality of revisions in past possible selves on subsequent revisions in self-esteem. These findings suggest that the effect of downward revisions in past possible selves may depend as much or more on the perceived quality as the quantity of those revisions.