Gender differences in adolescents' possible selves

The purpose of the study was to better understand gender differences in glo bal self-esteem at adolescence by examining the content of and gender diffe rences within adolescents' "possible selves." Possible selves are self-conc eptions about both what an individual hopes to become and fears becoming. R esults support the hypothesis that adolescents are able to access and repor t a vast array of possible selves. As hypothesized, female adolescents rate d feared possible selves as more likely than boys. Girls accessed more fear ed possible selves related to relational functioning, whereas boys generate d more feared possible selves related to occupation, general failure, and i nferiority. No gender differences in likelihood or content of hoped-for pos sible selves were demonstrated. Results indicate that differences in boys' and girls' self-views may be rooted in the experienced importance and likel ihood of feared selves. Implications for assessment and treatment addressin g adolescent self-esteem are discussed.