On Knowing Who You Want to Become

Validating a Measure of Aspirational Self-Clarity

Bibliographic Data

ID21352143
AuthorsRyan P Brown (0000-0003-2401-6077, Doerr Institute for New Leaders, Rice University, corresponding author), Andrew W Hertel (0000-0001-6177-6126, Knox College), Aaron L Pomerantz (0000-0001-9753-5105, Doerr Institute for New Leaders, Rice University), Jennifer Lodi-Smith (0000-0002-3074-6802, Department of Psychology, Canisius University), Kirsten Westmoreland (Rice University), Kirsten E Westmoreland (0000-0002-5410-5540, Rice University), Sandra V Parsons (Rice University)
Year2026
Pages1-14
Publication date2026-04-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality Assessment (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3891 • E-ISSN: 1532-7752
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00223891.2026.2650793
PMID41940637
OpenAlexW7151059707
LanguageEN
References cited60

The present research introduces the aspirational self-clarity (ASC) scale, which assesses the extent to which people’s conception of their desired future self is certain, well-defined, and consistently held. Three studies examined the ASC’s structure and temporal stability (Study 1, N = 600), nomological net (Study 2, N = 413), and malleability following a purpose-related intervention (Study 3, N = 129). Results show the ASC is a functionally unidimensional, stable measure that is positively associated with other aspects of self-clarity, self-confidence, and self-development. The ASC exhibited incremental validity beyond other forms of self-clarity with respect to growth orientation and sense of purpose, and a purpose-articulation intervention significantly boosted ASC scores, showing that aspirational self-clarity can operate as a state as well as a trait. Results support the value of the ASC and its connection to (and distinctiveness from) other aspects of self-clarity

Criterion validity · Incremental validity · Intervention (counseling) · Malleability · Measure (data warehouse) · Nomological network · Optimal distinctiveness theory · Stability (learning theory) · Value (mathematics) · Identity, Memory, and Therapy · Optimism, Hope, and Well-being · Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies

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