The motivational implications of adolescents’ school-oriented possible identities in a social change context

Abstract

In line with the identity-based motivation theory (Oyserman, 2015), which postulates that themotivational implications of possible identities depend on social context, the present researchargues that the interplay between accessible possible identities and motivation is also influencedby adolescents’ perceptions of social change. According to social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner,1986), perceptions of social change were conceptualized as intergroup comparison outcomes,which are assumed to influence the motivational implications of possible identities under the con-dition that the social change process is perceived as insecure. The results of the present study,which surveyed 631 South African adolescents, supported our assumption. For instance, Blacktownship participants’ motivational implications of their possible identities were informed by theiridentification with Black South Africans. However, the results with regard to white suburb andBlack suburb participants were rather ambiguous. The theoretical and practical implications ofthese findings are discussed in detail.