Present Self Research Articles

The interaction effect of time metaphors and destination-related user-generated content appeal on visit intention: A construal-level perspective

This study aims to explore the interaction effect of time metaphors and destination-related user-generated content (UGC) appeal on visit intention based on construal-level theory. The interaction effect was investigated in three scenario-based experiments. When representing the passage of time, people typically use one of the two time metaphors: the ‘ego-moving’ metaphor, where the ‘self’ moves away from the present toward an event in the future, or the ‘event-moving’ metaphor, where an event moves from the future and approaches the present self. This research has taken a construal-level perspective, suggesting that through the use of differing message appeals, time metaphors can influence the persuasiveness of UGC. The results of three studies suggest that combining an ego-moving (versus event-moving) metaphor with rational (versus emotional) UGC can elevate a person's visit intention and different levels of construal induced by time metaphors act as mediators. Theoretical and managerial implications are also discussed.

Wholeness in Time: Vulnerability, Disability, and Sabbath Temporality

This paper argues for the significance of time to Julia Watts Belser’s disability theology in Loving Our Own Bones. Belser’s focus on the wholeness of the present responds to significant problems in ableist conceptions of healing, which imply the insufficiency of the present self. This paper suggests how these ideas should lead to new thinking about time more broadly, encouraging a different kind of future-thinking instead of resisting it.

Construction of a Tool To Measure Self Perception Of Higher Secondary School Students

In the present study Self Perception scale has been constructed and standardized for the Higher Secondary School students. This scale consists of 70 statements. The simple random sample technique was used for this study. The sample consists of 100 higher secondary school students randomly selected from the Villupuram District. The ‘t’ value used to standardized the tool and finally 53 statements were retained for the final study.

Does Perceived Similarity Between Present and Future Self Predict Well-Being? A Reanalysis and Replication of Reiff et al. (2020)

Reiff and colleagues found that perceived similarity between one’s present and future self is positively associated with life satisfaction 10 years later, using a difference-score approach to operationalize similarity. This study further evaluated the similarity effect by reproducing the original longitudinal association with a difference-score method, by using more sophisticated analyses (i.e., polynomial regression and response surface analyses), and by replicating the association in a newly collected sample. We were able to reproduce and replicate the findings based on a difference-score approach. However, we did not find a similarity effect in either sample using more sophisticated approaches. The current results show that previously reported support for the association between perceived similarity and well-being is driven by the statistical main effects of personality reports.

‘You’re really going to be fine’: celebrity cameos, toast (2010) and the British biopic

ABSTRACT When a biopic includes a cameo appearance from the subject themselves, it can serve as a persuasive claim to authenticity: what more powerful endorsement is there than figures appearing in their own life stories? Less common is the interaction between the subject and their on-screen surrogate which occurs in Toast (2010), an adaptation of food writer Nigel Slater’s memoir. Slater himself appears in the film as a Savoy chef who offers his younger self (played by Freddie Highmore) a job in a London kitchen. This interaction visualises characteristics of the memoir genre, the meeting between a past and present self, and affords rehabilitation: in representing visually the memoirist as witness to their own traumatic past, the adaptation suggests a ‘working through’ of childhood traumas associated with an abusive father. Toast also hints at the cameo’s capacity to intervene in the memoirist’s past in a manner which reflects the ‘corrective’ possibilities evident in different forms of life-writing. In having Slater offer his younger self reassurance – ‘you’re really going to be fine’ – the memoirist embodies the caring father he himself lacked. In Toast’s telling, time really is a great healer, provided you are willing to exploit the potential of the cameo appearance.

The pursuit of the ideal self: An investigation of the relationship of authenticity and ideal self‐congruence

The pursuit of the ideal self: An investigation of the relationship of authenticity and ideal self‐congruence

Infertility psychological distress in women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment: A grounded theory study.

While there exists an ample body of research in international contexts focused on the characterization and quantification of infertility psychological distress, the level of scholarly scrutiny directed towards this phenomenon within the context of China remains scant. To investigate the formation and developmental processes of psychological distress associated with infertility and infertility treatment among women within the Chinese cultural context and to construct a theoretical framework that elucidates this phenomenon. Qualitative approach with grounded theory methodology. This study was conducted within the reproductive medicine department of a tertiary-level hospital located in central China from May to August 2023. Twenty-seven women who experienced infertility and underwent assisted reproductive treatment (ART) were interviewed. The interview sessions spanned durations ranging from 20 min to 1 h and 35 min. Data analysis included open coding, axial coding and selective coding. The study is reported using the COREQ checklist. The infertility psychological distress experienced by women undergoing ART is a socially constructed phenomenon influenced by a dynamic interplay of forces that construct and conciliate it. The formation and progression of infertility psychological distress are rooted in the process of self-construction. A Middle-Ranged Theory titled 'self-reconstruction under the dome of infertility and infertility treatment' (SUDIT theory) was developed to explain this phenomenon. Within this framework, infertility psychological distress manifests across three distinct phases under the gambling ofthe constructive force and conciliative force: (1) distress of disrupting the former self; (2) distress linked to the struggling present self; and (3) the renewed-self harmonized with distress. It is imperative for healthcare professionals and policymakers to acknowledge the socially constructed nature of infertility psychological distress, and proactively implement measures aimed at ameliorating it. No patient or public contribution.

Back to the Present: How Direction of Mental Time Travel Affects Similarity and Saving

Abstract Many consumers say they want to save for the future yet struggle to do so. This research examines this saving behavior problem from a persuasive messaging standpoint. With the goal of helping people take better care of their future selves, we build on a stream of research that has found that the way people view their identities over time affects the saving decisions they make. Although past research on similarity judgments across time almost exclusively starts with the present self and moves forward to the future self, such judgments could theoretically start at any point in time. Here, we explore the possibility of backward mental time travel, by asking people to start in the future and return to the present. A series of studies shows that mentally traveling from the future to the present—rather than the present to the future—increases perceived similarity between selves across time by reducing the uncertainty of the destination self. Lab studies and two large-scale experiments indicate that, as an important outcome of this novel intervention, mentally traveling from the future to the present has a small but positive impact, systematically increasing savings intentions and savings behavior.

The presentation of self via everyday vlogging: Analyzing everyday vlogs of Korean expatriates

Drawing on research about constructing identities through self-presentation (De Fina & Georgakopoulou, 2012) and Bamberg’s (2011a, b) sameness and difference, I demonstrate how Korean expatriates employ vlogging strategies to construct and present everyday self, especially vis-à-vis viewers. To do so, I analyze 27 daily vlogs of Korean expatriates living in Hong Kong, New York, and Tokyo. The vloggers present the mundanity of everyday life, using chronological organization, quick scene transitions, micro-details, and “historical present” (Wolfson, 1979). These vlogging strategies, I argue, create alignment with viewers, signaling that “my daily life is just like yours.” Simultaneously, the vloggers make everyday vlogs engaging and entertaining through offering explanatory notes and not providing translation of what is being spoken, especially when they present foreign city lives, cultures, and languages they experience by virtue of living abroad, to signal “my daily life is different from yours.” Everyday vlogging of Korean expatriates, as a type of “lifestreaming” (Marwick 2013), involves meaning making and identity construction processes through which Korean expatriates skillfully exert and express agency in (ab)normalizing their expatriate self and life, in connection to others, and thus achieve self-legitimacy and -empowerment.

코로나19 팬데믹 시기 가족 사별을 경험한 대학생의 VR기반 애도 미술치료 사례연구

Objectives The purpose of this study is to identify VR-based mourning art therapy experiences for college stu-dents who have experienced family bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic and seek directions for art psy-chological support for college students who have experienced bereavement.
 Methods This study divided four college students into preliminary research and research, and conducted four ses-sions of VR-based art therapy and PITR drawing tests(pre-, post-, and last post- test). The final VR-based mourning art therapy program was completed through a report on the experience of a preliminary study in which the researcher directly participated and a revision process through the expert's supervision. This study was con-ducted on two college students who expressed their willingness to participate in the future. The qualitative results of art therapy cases collected in this study were cross-analyzed and categorized by four researchers to derive results.
 Results First of all, three areas, seven themes, and 75 corresponding meaning statements were derived as a result of VR-based mourning art therapy, and it was confirmed that it provided meaningful mourning experiences to col-lege students who experienced bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Second of all, it was reported that VR-based mourning art therapy had the effect of confirming the present self in the PITR drawing tests(pre-, post-, and last post- test).
 Conclusions The results of this study are significant in that they confirmed the experiences of college students who experienced bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic through VR-based art therapy, and we hope to contribute to expanding the support base and academic development of VR-based mourning art therapy.

Precision Medicine, Future Risk and the Present Self

In May 2015, my mother was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer and passed away three months later at the age of 78. Two years later, my older brother, only 53 at the time, was also diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away 15 months later. With this news, we engaged in the genetic retelling of family histories and connections, drawing genealogical maps on pieces of paper that reminded me of teaching Anthro 101 and starkly reimagined which relatives ‘mattered’ in our lives. As an anthropologist interested in subject formation and spatiality informed by a Foucauldian analytic, I have been propelled into exploring what it means to become ‘high risk’ (as a biologically related daughter and sister), subject to new regimes of surveillance and self‐management espoused by the field of precision medicine. This paper addresses this experience and thus contributes to questions of subject formation within the already‐existing truth‐making practices of genetic probability and personalized risk management.

Temporal self-appraisals associated with suicide-related thoughts and behaviors

BackgroundTemporal self-appraisal (TSA) is the trajectory of self-appraisal over time, including how a person views their past and future selves in relation to their present self. In this study, we examined the TSA of individuals with and without a history of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (STBs). MethodsUsing Amazon Mechanical Turk for recruitment, we studied 397 participants on validated measures of TSA, STBs, and mood. ResultsThe non-STB group (n = 291) had a TSA trajectory similar to that previously found for nonclinical populations, with perceived self-improvement over time. In contrast, the TSA of the STB group (n = 106) had two distinct qualities: their TSA profiles were more negative at all time points (past, present, and future) than the non-STB group, and they displayed similar anticipated present-to-future growth as the non-STB group but perceived minimal past-to-present change. These differences persisted when controlling for depression, anxiety, and stress, suggesting a distinct STB-related TSA profile independent of comorbid affective states. LimitationsThis study is limited by the use of self-report measures and cross-sectional design. ConclusionsBy investigating TSA, this study provides insights into the unique aspects of self-appraisal associated with having a history of STBs and emphasizes the need for therapeutic interventions that foster self-continuity and positive self-appraisal across time. Future research should focus on clarifying the mechanisms underlying this distinct self-appraisal pattern in the STB group and the effects of interventions that enhance temporal self-appraisal.

Future self-continuity promotes meaning in life through authenticity

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.

CD1a and skin T cells: a pathway for therapeutic intervention.

The CD1 and MR1 protein families present lipid antigens and small molecules to T cells, complementing well-studied major histocompatibility complex-peptide mechanisms. The CD1a subtype is highly and continuously expressed within the skin, most notably on Langerhans cells, and has been demonstrated to present self and foreign lipids to T cells, highlighting its cutaneous sentinel role. Alteration of CD1a-dependent T-cell responses has recently been discovered to contribute to the pathogenesis of several inflammatory skin diseases. In this review, we overview the structure and role of CD1a and outline the current evidence implicating CD1a in the development of psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.

THE IDENTITY CRISIS OF RETA WINTERS: GENDER AND ETHNICITY IN CAROL SHIELD’S UNLESS

Carol Shield’s novel Unless (2002) mainly revolves around Reta Winter’s identity crisis in comparison to her past and present self. As an activist in her youth and a current writer, Reta’s world turns upside down after the news that one of her daughters, Norah, unexpectedly decides to live in the street. This incident reminds Reta how much she is estranged from her past self in the journey of self-discovery and how it leads her into an identity crisis. In this research paper, it will be discussed how Reta’s life changes after her daughter Norah’s choice, how Alicia, one of the protagonists in Reta’s novel, changes her life choices dramatically, and how Canada’s multiculturalism policy is presented in life. The interconnectedness among Norah’s choice of living in the street by sitting behind a cardboard sign “goodness” (after experiencing a traumatic incident), the references related to Norah’s clothes and where she chooses to sit, and the relationship between Norah’s traumatic event and Canada’s multiculturalism policy will lead Reta to revisit her past self that she has forgotten for a very long time and will guide her to remember her old self as the other. Reta’s personal trauma and Canada’s cultural trauma will be analyzed in the scope of literary trauma theories by the contribution of the pioneers in this field, particularly Cathy Caruth.

Evocation of the self: self-defining mental photographs

The acquisition of mental tools is a uniquely human mode of resisting situational pressure and achieving psychological self-determination. The fact that material photographs effectively trigger autobiographical memories has led to the hypothesis that they have functional counterparts in the form of memories of the most personally significant photographs. One hundred and eighty-five participants volunteered to recall, describe, and rate on several scales the memories of photographs that best express their personality. The “self-defining mental photographs” obtained from the participants were found to be subjectively attractive, highly functional, and expressive of various personality traits. The exploratory factor analysis suggested a three-factor solution interpreted as qualitatively specific types of mental photographs. Mental photographs scoring high on Factor 1 (Focus on the event) may serve as retrieval tool for extracting personal sense from a concrete episode of the past. High scores on Factor 2 (Detailed image of the narrator) probably refer to the internal dialogue between past and present self. High scores on Factor 3 (Holistic Self) were attributed to the integrated experience of personality-destiny unity coinciding with the awareness of one's history of existence.

Future-self vividness influences acceptance of camera-based active and assisted living technologies

Abstract Background Camera-based active and assisted living (AAL) technologies are an eminent solution to the accruing burdens of population ageing but are hardly accepted by older adults. The technology's privacy implications and perceived usefulness are established antecedents to its acceptance. However, one understudied barrier to acceptance is a failure in future self-identification. Specifically, to the extent that the wellbeing benefits of camera-based AAL technologies largely accrue to the future (rather than the present) self, older adults who have less (versus more) vivid impressions of their future selves may be less willing to accept the technology today. Objectives To assess the unique contribution of future self-vividness to the prediction of older adults’ acceptance of camera-based AAL technologies. Methods A cross-sectional online survey collected data from n = 183 community-dwelling older adults (mean age = 64.2, 51.9% male). Hierarchical logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of future self-vividness and acceptance, independent of demographics, privacy concerns, and the perceived usefulness of camera-based AAL technologies. Results Future self-vividness was positively associated with an increased likelihood of acceptance (OR = 2.54, 95% CI 1.26-5.11) even after controlling for the effects of demographics, perceived usefulness, and privacy concerns. Compared to a demographics-only model (Nagelkerke R2 = .256) and subsequent model that included privacy concerns and perceived usefulness as additional predictors (Nalgekerke R2 = .439), the addition of future self-vividness added significantly to the prediction of acceptance (χ2 = 7.58, p = .006, Nalgekerke R2 = .495). Conclusions Acceptance of camera-based AAL technologies is uniquely influenced by future self-vividness. Enhancing the vividness with which older adults envisage their future selves may be an important strategy to promote acceptance and use of camera-based AAL technologies. Key messages • Future self-vividness is uniquely associated with the acceptance of camera-based AAL technologies. • Interventions that enhance future self-vividness may promote acceptance of AAL technologies.

Coping with depression: a narrative study of an online depression community in China

ABSTRACT Purpose The goal of this study was to explore the coping strategies of depression sufferers that have worked for them based on the study of an online depression community. Methods We conducted a thematic narrative analysis of 120 stories posted by the members in the largest online depression community in China. MaxQDA version 18 was used to code the data, and the analytic approach was consistent with the category-centred approach of grounded theory. Results The study found that the coping strategies mainly include self-reconciliation (e.g., perceiving/accepting feelings, accepting the present self, and holding hope for the future), actions (recreational activities, physical exercise, and engaging in volunteer work), addressing the stressors and symptoms (e.g., staying away from stressors, seeing the doctor), and seeking interpersonal support (e.g., seeking support from family, friends, and peers). Conclusion The findings revealed the coping strategies that were helpful and examined how they functioned for the affected members, which make up for the lack of attention to the individual experiences of depression sufferers in coping research. The findings also have practical implications for the related education and consultation, providing useful insights for doctors and patients. These ways of coping are based on depression sufferer’ anonymous narratives, which can be convincing to clients.

Validation of the Future Self Continuity Questionnaire (FSCQ)

This oral presentation aims to illustrates a local validation of a recently developed measure of future-self-continuity, the Future Self Continuity Questionnaire (FSCQ). Self-continuity is the sense of psychological connection between the past self, the present self and the future self, in the dimension of time (Chandler, 1994). Rutchick et al. (2018) propose that when people feel a greater sense of continuity between their present and future selves, their decision making may be more influenced by thoughts of their future self. The study will recruit at least 200 participants to fill out a series of questionnaires related to future self-continuity, including the Future Self-Continuity Scale (FSCS), Consideration of Future Consequences-14 Scale (CFC-14), Multidimensional Temporal Self-Continuity Scale (MTSCS), and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). The higher degree people's future self-continuity (according to the FSCQ), the more likely they are to associate their future self with their past/present self (as measured by FSCS and MTSCS). This inclination also tends to result in a greater consideration for the future consequences of their actions (as measured by the CFC), and potentially corresponds with a lower degree of hopelessness (as measured by BHS). Analyses will include item analyses, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to examine the factorial structure of the questionnaire, alongside assessments of internal consistency and test-retest reliability.

Retrograde amnesia abolishes the self-reference effect in anterograde memory

Is retrograde amnesia associated with an ability to know who we are and imagine what we will be like in the future? To answer this question, we had S.G., a patient with focal retrograde amnesia following hypoxia, two brain-damaged (control) patients with no retrograde memory deficits, and healthy controls judge whether each of a series of trait adjectives was descriptive of their present self, future self, another person, and that person in the future, and later recognize studied traits among distractors. Healthy controls and control patients were more accurate in recognizing self-related compared to other-related traits, a phenomenon known as the self-reference effect (SRE). This held for both present and future self-views. By contrast, no evidence of (present or future) SRE was observed in SG, who concomitantly showed reduced certainty about his personality traits. These findings indicate that retrograde amnesia can weaken the self-schema and preclude its instantiation during self-related processing.