Future Selves

The concept of “future selves” merges two terms, the “future” and the “self,” each brings a wide range of meanings, and together they offer further meaning and a focus for applied scientific fields such as cognitive sciences, social psychology, and futures studies. The self is the object of the self-perception, the metacognitive skill that allows the person to consider themself. The self is conceived by the individual as well as is influenced by social interactions and involved in the sociocultural processes of identity building, in which a “dialogical self” takes position in the “society of selves.” The future is “what is going to happen” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, but much more from the perspective of futures studies. The future is the domain of predictions, hopes, plans, fear, and anxiety, a domain of possibilities, as opposed to past and present realities. The future is the necessary reference for any description of a social entity and a dimension of human existence. The “future selves” are representations of oneself in the future, recently regarded as the foundation of human action in terms of anticipatory behavior or explicit foresight. This entry starts with the definitions of future selves in a variety of fields, mentioning some recent applications. Then, it focuses on the relation between future selves and the future consciousness. The conclusions present some reflections on the role of future selves in the development of the capacities of individuals and communities, in the context of future literacy