Abstract
Young, middle-aged, and elderly adults (N = 308) evaluated themselves on 6 dimensions of psychological well-being according to present, past, future, and ideal self-assessments. Young and middle-aged adults saw considerable improvement in themselves from the past to the present on all dimensions of well-being. The elderly, however, indicated largely a perception of stability with prior levels of functioning. Future ratings showed that the 2 younger groups expected continued gains in the years ahead, whereas the oldest respondents foresaw decline on most aspects of well-being. The comparison of present and ideal self-ratings supported (cross-sectionally) the hypothesis that with age, individuals achieve a closer fit between their ideal and their actual self-perceptions.
Keywords
PsychologyIdeal (ethics)Young adultPerceptionDevelopmental psychologyMiddle ageAdult developmentAge groupsSocial psychologyDemography
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1991
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 286-295
- Citations
- 495
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Carol D. Ryff
(1991).
Possible selves in adulthood and old age: A tale of shifting horizons..
Psychology and Aging
, 6
(2)
, 286-295.
https://doi.org/10.1037//0882-7974.6.2.286
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1037//0882-7974.6.2.286