FUTURE TIME PERSPECTIVE AND PREFERENCE FOR DELAYED REWARD

IT WAS HYPOTHESIZED AND DEMONSTRATED THAT THE CAPACITY TO PREFER A LARGER REWARD, DELAYED FOR A SHORT AND SPECIFIED TIME, OVER A SMALLER REWARD AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY, IS RELATED TO (1) THE DEGREE TO WHICH IMAGES OF PERSONAL FUTURE EVENTS IN GENERAL ARE ENDOWED WITH A SENSE OF REALITY, AND (2) THE DEGREE OF EVERYDAY PREOCCUPATION WITH FUTURE RATHER THAN PRESENT EVENTS. 47 10.5-12.5 YR. OLD MALES WERE INDIVIDUALLY INTERVIEWED. 25 SS WHO CONSISTENTLY CHOSE DELAYED LARGER REWARDS WERE COMPARED WITH THE REMAINING 22 SS WHO PREFERRED IMMEDIATE SMALLER REINFORCEMENTS ON MEASURES OF 5 DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THEIR OUTLOOK ON THE FUTURE. AS PREDICTED, THERE WAS NO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHOICES MADE IN THESE SITUATIONS AND MEASURES OF THE LENGTH OF FUTURE TIME PERSPECTIVES. (18 REF.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1968 American Psychological Association.