Adolescent Possible Selves as Jointly Constructed in Parent-Adolescent Career Conversations and Related Activities

Abstract

The purpose of this research project is to describe the possible selves that parents and adolescents introduce and jointly adjust, adopt, maintain, or abandon in conversations about potential careers and related activities over an 8-month period. Data were gathered from 19 parent-adolescent dyads through observation of (a) parents and adolescents during videotaped conversations about the adolescent's career-related future, (b) parents and adolescents during video recall of conversations, and (c) logs and telephone monitoring. Findings reveal two broad sets of processes pertaining to the construction of possible selves: “exploring options” and “trying on a possible self.”