The influence of possible selves on globalcitizenshipidentification

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.