Does Self-Projection Have a Dominant Temporal Direction? In Nine Countries, People Feel More Similar to Their Future Than Past Selves
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: = 11,416) reveal that people feel more similar to their future selves than their equidistant past selves. This future-oriented asymmetry in self-projection is directionally consistent across nine countries, with variation in effect size, and holds across different time horizons. Time-asymmetric self-projection covaries with higher levels of emotional connection between present and future selves and lower levels of perceived future self-change. We also provide preliminary causal-chain evidence for perceived self-change as a process by experimentally manipulating self-change beliefs. The future-oriented asymmetry appears to be self-focused, as it does not extend to others. Finally, future-oriented self-projection can lead to miscalibrated expectations: People expect their future selves to be more satisfied with hypothetical decisions made in the present than they currently would be with the same decisions in the past.
Institution: Norwegian School of Economics
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,900
OpenAlex ID: W7169671502