자아연속성(self-continuity)
18세기 철학자 조지 프저틀러는
만약 오늘의 자아가 내일의 자아와 동일하지 않다면
오늘 당신은 내일 자신에게 닥칠 일을 타인에게
닥칠 일처럼 무관심하게 생각할 것이다.라고 했다
미래의 나를 나로 여기지 않는 점이
저축이나 운동을 꺼리는 등 인간 행동의
비 합리적 요인을 설명해 주는 것이다.
미래의 자신을 가깝게 느끼는 자아연속성이
높을수록 당장 눈앞의 만족감보다는 장기적으로
더 큰 보상을 받는 선택을 한다는 것이다.
평소 나와 친한 사람 내가 좋아하고 아끼며
어떤 일이든 기꺼이 도와주고 싶은
사람처럼 대할 수 있다면 어떨까?
분명 미래의 나를 위해 더 나은 선택을 하고
결국 현재와 미래의 삶이 훨씬 나아질 것이다.
반대로 미래의 나를 타인으로 느낀다는 사실은
우리가 목표를 세우고도 번번이 실패하는 이유를
이해하는데 도움이 된다.
https://youtube.com/shorts/_j3XuOOR6js?si=fgMwNhz8v7lzW9hW
self-continuity
The 18th-century philosopher Joseph Butler once said,
If the self of today is not the same as the self of tomorrow,
then today you will think of tomorrow’s problems
as if they belong to someone else.
This insight explains why we often act irrationally—
why we avoid saving money or exercising—
even when we know it’s good for us.
It stems from not seeing our future selves as part of who we are now.
Research shows that people who feel a stronger sense of self-continuity
—a closer connection with their future selves—
are more likely to choose long-term rewards over short-term gratification.
So, what if we treated our future selves like
someone we care deeply about?
Someone we love, cherish, and would gladly help in any situation?
If we did, we would make better decisions today for their sake—
and as a result, both our present and future lives would improve.
On the other hand, feeling like our future self is a stranger helps explain
why we often set goals but repeatedly fail to follow through.
--From Your Future Self--
The author, Hal Hershfield, conducted a longitudinal study tracking over 4,000 people for ten years. His research revealed that individuals with a high level of self-continuity—a strong sense of connection with their future selves—are more likely to make decisions that favor long-term rewards.
This research has been featured in leading academic journals across the fields of business, psychology, and science, and has also received widespread coverage in major media outlets.
