Research article

The influence of possible selves on globalcitizenshipidentification

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Abstract

We examined the influence of a 'possible self' activity on antecedents, identification, and outcomes of global citizenship. Participants wrote about either hoped-for selves as active global citizens, feared selves as inactive global citizens, or a typical day (control) and then answered questions to gauge their global citizenidentification. Results show that the saliency of a feared self as an inactive global citizen led to greater identification with the global citizen identity. A structural equation model shows that feared self (vs hoped-for self) predicted greater global citizenship identification, through the perception of one's normative environment as prescribing a global citizen identity and global awareness. Global citizenship identification predicted greater endorsement of prosocial values and behaviours (e.g.intergroup empathy and helping). The results support the use of a 'feared self' activity to engender global citizenship identification and prosocial values instudents.

Keywords: POSSIBLE SELVES, GLOBAL CITIZEN, PROSOCIAL VALUES, NORMATIVE, ENVIRONMENT, GLOBAL AWARENESS

How to Cite:

(2014) “The influence of possible selves on globalcitizenshipidentification”, International Journal of Development Education and Global Learning 6(3), 63–78. doi: https://doi.org/10.18546/IJDEGL.06.3.05