Self-Continuity
Future self-continuity promotes meaning in life through authenticity
Hong, E. K., Zhang, Y., & Sedikides, C. (2024) Journal of Research in Personality.
We concerned with the emerging construct “future self-continuity” and its psychological consequences. We hypothesized, in particular, that future self-continuity, the perceived connection between one’s present and future self, is related—correlationally and causally—to meaning in life via authenticity, the subjective alignment with one’s true self. We tested and supported this hypothesis in three studies using measurement-of-mediation and experimental-causal-chain designs. At the trait level, future self-continuity was positively associated with meaning in life through authenticity (Study 1; N = 255). Experimentally induced high (vs. low) future self-continuity increased meaning in life via authenticity (Study 2; N = 177). Finally, experimentally induced authenticity (vs. controls) augmented meaning in life (Study 3; N = 369). Future self-continuity has implications for psychological well-being.
Self-Continuity
Sedikides, C., Hong, E. K., & Wildschut, T. (2023) Annual Review of Psychology.
Self-continuity is the subjective sense of connection between one’s past and present selves (past–present self-continuity), between one’s present and future selves (present–future self-continuity), or among one’s past, present, and future selves (global self-continuity).We consider the motivational character of the three forms of self-continuity, their regulatory properties, and the internal or external factors that consolidate them.We also review their consequences for attitudes and judgments or decisions, motivation, intentions and behavior, and psychological and physical health. We further the detail psychological and behavioral benefits of self-discontinuity (i.e., a sense of disconnect among temporal selves). We next turn to the brain regions that are activated synchronously with self-continuity. We consider developmental perspectives on self-continuity, discuss collective self-continuity (along with its consequences and regulatory properties), and elaborate on cultural differences in self-continuity. This inaugural Annual Reviews chapter demonstrates the breadth, excitement, and sense of synergy among selfcontinuity researchers and points to promising research directions.
How Does Nostalgia Conduce to Global Self-Continuity? The Roles of Identity Narrative, Associative Links, and Stability
Hong, E. K., Sedikides, C., & Wildschut, T. (2022) Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
In five studies (N = 1,074), we examined the relation—both correlational and causal—between nostalgia, a sentimental longing for one’s past, and global self-continuity (GSC), a sense of connection among past, present, and future selves. Furthermore, we addressed mechanisms underlying this relation. We asked, in particular, whether nostalgic individuals might achieve GSC by constructing a narrative to give meaning to life transitions (narrative), connecting to the past (associative links), or believing in a self that is resistant to change (stability). Nostalgia predicted (Studies 1–3) and caused (Studies 4 and 5) GSC. The relation between nostalgia and GSC was consistently mediated by narrative, sporadically mediated by associative links, and unmediated by stability. The robust indirect effect via narrative remained significant when controlling for rumination (Study 3). We discuss theoretical and practical implications.
Nostalgia strengthens global self-continuity through holistic thinking
Hong, E. K., Sedikides, C., & Wildschut, T. (2021) Cognition and Emotion.
Nostalgia, a sentimental longing for one’s meaningful past, promotes global selfcontinuity (GSC), a sense of connection among one’s past, present, and future selves. We identified a cognitive mechanism for this effect: holistic thinking, and in particular interactional causality (presupposing multiple causes that interact to influence an object’s behaviour). In three studies, using measurement-of-mediation and experimental-causal-chain designs, nostalgia was related to, and caused, higher GSC through interactional causality. In cross-sectional Study 1, trait nostalgia was associated with GSC via interactional causality. In Study 2, induced nostalgia led to higher interactional causality and ensuing GSC. In Study 3, manipulated interactional causal thinking increased GSC.
Culture, psychological proximity to the past and future, and self-continuity
Ji, L., Hong, E. K., Guo, T., Zhang, Z., Su, Y., & Huazhong, Y.L. (2019) European Journal of Social Psychology.
The present research explores how culture influences individuals’ psychological proximity to the past and future, which may predict differences in perceived self-continuity across time. In Studies 1 and 2, we hypothesized and found that Chinese participants saw the past and future as more connected and subjectively closer to the present compared to Euro-Canadians. Following this, we expected and found in Studies 3 and 4 that Chinese participants perceived greater self-continuity over time than Euro-Canadians. Additionally, perceived closeness to the past mediated the effect of culture on past–present self-continuity, which subsequently predicted present–future self-continuity. Study 5 further documented a causal effect of perceived distance to the past on self-continuity. These results suggest that cultural differences in temporal attention to the past and future play a pivotal role in people’s sense of self-continuity across time. This has important implications for temporal focalism, intertemporal discounting, and social interactions between Chinese and Euro-Canadians.