Possible selves and possible others – explicating theoretical and methodological potentials

It is argued that the theory of possible selves, being concrete conceptions of our selves in a future, can benefit from an expansion through the concept of possible others. The paper is intended to prompt discussions about the potential of this concept, using insights from existing empirical and theoretical work on possible selves. Possible others are defined as the persons that an individual assumes will participate in the future event imagined as a possible self. It is discussed and exemplified how this theoretical development could give a more nuanced understanding of the theory of possible selves where it is adopted for studies of student well-being and motivation in higher education. Methodological and theoretical possibilities are discussed, both in relation to empirical research and application of the theory of possible selves for supporting students, for example in relation to widening participation