Motivational attributes of occupational possible selves for low-income rural women.

To explore the influence of theorized motivational properties of possible selves on participants' perceived likelihood of achieving their most hoped-for self and avoiding their most feared self, the authors surveyed 198 low-income rural women attending either adult basic education classes (DHS, n = 95) or community college developmental classes (DEV, n = 103), who provided demographic information and completed questionnaires about occupational possible selves and personal efficacy. Affect, knowing someone in a hoped-for occupation, self-initiated actions, and personal efficacy each accounted for significant variance in predicting the participants' perceptions of achieving their most hoped-for self. None of the variables was predictive of participants' perceptions of avoiding their most feared self. Information about this population, implications for research, and career counseling are discussed.