On Knowing Who You Want to Become: Validating a Measure of Aspirational Self-Clarity

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.