Final answer:
Possible selves primarily serve a motivational function, reflecting individuals' conceptions of what they might, hope to, or are afraid to become, affecting their behavior as they strive towards or away from these potential identities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Possible selves serve primarily a motivational function. They represent individuals' ideas of what they might become, what they would like to become, and what they are afraid of becoming. This concept influences how people behave as they are motivated to turn potential selves into reality or avoid feared potential outcomes. While there is some overlap with concepts like cognitive restructuring and emotional regulation (as motivating oneself often involves changing one's thoughts and managing emotions), these are not the primary functions of possible selves.
It is important to understand that possible selves are fundamentally about motivation. Self-efficacy, a term coined by Albert Bandura, is related to this concept, as one's belief in their capacity to achieve what they set out to do is bound to impact their motivations and, subsequently, their possible selves.