Derived from possible selves theory in social psychology (e.g. Markus and Nurius 1986; Higgins1987), the L2 Motivational Self System comprises three principal components: the Ideal L2 Self, the Ought-to L2 Self, and the L2 Learning Experience. The Ideal L2 Self concerns a desirable self image of the kind of L2 user one would ideally like to become in the future. If learners see a discrepancy between this and their actual self image, the unease that this difference generates will act as a potent motivational source.