What Are Possible Selves And How Do We Find Out About Them? The Revised Possible Me Tree Model

ABSTRACT

Possible selves is a theory of self-concept and behaviour motivation. Methods of exploring possible selves have focused on interviews and questionnaires. This article introduces the Possible Me Tree model and explains how the model was adapted and used for research. The Possible Me Tree model was implemented with young people between 17 and 18 years of age who had been in a child and youth care centre for a minimum of 12 months and who would be aging out of the care system in the year the study was conducted. The pilot study indicated that original Possible Me Tree drawing activity was impractical. As a result, refinements were made to the Possible Me Tree process. The revised model required that three discrete interviews were conducted with each participant, making use of the following techniques: a life map, possible me tree drawing and a planning grid. These activities are scaffolded to create a whole, unified data collection or therapeutic process. Further refinements were made to the planning grid after the study was concluded. Findings are presented from the study structured into three themes; tenacity, determination and hard work, hustling to make money and issues to address in therapy. The article concludes by arguing that Possible Me Tree model is an innovative and creative approach to social work research and practice. This model has value in social work research and practice as a form of visual diagramming which may help build rapport, address power issues in the research process and allow participants control and ownership over the end product. Further research using the model proposed may lead to more adaptations to the model. Research that explores the use of the model in the therapeutic context is also recommended.

KEYWORDS:

• Possible selves
• Possible Me Tree
• young people
• research
• therapy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Research Foundation of South Africa [grant number 93634].

Notes on contributors

Sue Bond

Sue Bond is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa. Prior to joining UJ her social work career encompassed child protection, family services, substance abuse, school social and oncology social work. Sue believes that research and practice are interlinked, and that creative approaches serve both fields. Her passion is the application of Possible Selves across various domains of social work, but particularly with care-experienced young people.