Chapter 6. How Might Your Willingness to Think of the Future Affect Your Ability to Achieve Long-Term Goals?

Intro

How Might Your Willingness to Think of the Future Affect Your Ability to Achieve Long-Term Goals?

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Play this brief video introduction from one of your authors, Nathan DeWall.

Test Yourself

How much do you think of the future?

Indicate below how much each of the following statements reflects how you typically are.

Question 6.1

1. I consider how things might be in the future, and try to influence those things with my day-to-day behavior.	YT9MoT0xQJsnAf+zLO8eX8U4RXva5Zl3trwo+Ss2x7JibPMVuqGKVgbvEw/qQCyvCAd3rnkHRAWqLMCi+R85Am52kv4djgv82vHgUO4QmUKGvgFLMqb9gKvV/d2+cfgXKzs24dyDxf/Xo7fzD1UHcbs2tcMPs0Mij5cXqTD3WROIFPK2dA6pnWwny4s=
2. Often I engage in a particular behavior in order to achieve outcomes that may not result for many years.	YT9MoT0xQJsnAf+zLO8eX8U4RXva5Zl3trwo+Ss2x7JibPMVuqGKVgbvEw/qQCyvCAd3rnkHRAWqLMCi+R85Am52kv4djgv82vHgUO4QmUKGvgFLMqb9gKvV/d2+cfgXKzs24dyDxf/Xo7fzD1UHcbs2tcMPs0Mij5cXqTD3WROIFPK2dA6pnWwny4s=
3. I only act to satisfy immediate concerns, figuring the future will take care of itself.	YT9MoT0xQJsnAf+zLO8eX8U4RXva5Zl3trwo+Ss2x7JibPMVuqGKVgbvEw/qQCyvCAd3rnkHRAWqLMCi+R85Am52kv4djgv82vHgUO4QmUKGvgFLMqb9gKvV/d2+cfgXKzs24dyDxf/Xo7fzD1UHcbs2tcMPs0Mij5cXqTD3WROIFPK2dA6pnWwny4s=
4. My behavior is only influenced by the immediate (i.e., a matter of days or weeks) outcomes of my actions.	YT9MoT0xQJsnAf+zLO8eX8U4RXva5Zl3trwo+Ss2x7JibPMVuqGKVgbvEw/qQCyvCAd3rnkHRAWqLMCi+R85Am52kv4djgv82vHgUO4QmUKGvgFLMqb9gKvV/d2+cfgXKzs24dyDxf/Xo7fzD1UHcbs2tcMPs0Mij5cXqTD3WROIFPK2dA6pnWwny4s=
5. My convenience is a big factor in the decisions I make or the actions I take.	YT9MoT0xQJsnAf+zLO8eX8U4RXva5Zl3trwo+Ss2x7JibPMVuqGKVgbvEw/qQCyvCAd3rnkHRAWqLMCi+R85Am52kv4djgv82vHgUO4QmUKGvgFLMqb9gKvV/d2+cfgXKzs24dyDxf/Xo7fzD1UHcbs2tcMPs0Mij5cXqTD3WROIFPK2dA6pnWwny4s=
6. I am willing to sacrifice my immediate happiness or well-being in order to achieve future outcomes.	YT9MoT0xQJsnAf+zLO8eX8U4RXva5Zl3trwo+Ss2x7JibPMVuqGKVgbvEw/qQCyvCAd3rnkHRAWqLMCi+R85Am52kv4djgv82vHgUO4QmUKGvgFLMqb9gKvV/d2+cfgXKzs24dyDxf/Xo7fzD1UHcbs2tcMPs0Mij5cXqTD3WROIFPK2dA6pnWwny4s=
7. I think it is important to take warnings about negative outcomes seriously, even if the negative outcome will not occur for many years.	YT9MoT0xQJsnAf+zLO8eX8U4RXva5Zl3trwo+Ss2x7JibPMVuqGKVgbvEw/qQCyvCAd3rnkHRAWqLMCi+R85Am52kv4djgv82vHgUO4QmUKGvgFLMqb9gKvV/d2+cfgXKzs24dyDxf/Xo7fzD1UHcbs2tcMPs0Mij5cXqTD3WROIFPK2dA6pnWwny4s=
8. I think it is more important to perform a behavior with important distant consequences than a behavior with less-important immediate consequences.	YT9MoT0xQJsnAf+zLO8eX8U4RXva5Zl3trwo+Ss2x7JibPMVuqGKVgbvEw/qQCyvCAd3rnkHRAWqLMCi+R85Am52kv4djgv82vHgUO4QmUKGvgFLMqb9gKvV/d2+cfgXKzs24dyDxf/Xo7fzD1UHcbs2tcMPs0Mij5cXqTD3WROIFPK2dA6pnWwny4s=
9. I generally ignore warnings about possible future problems, because I think the problems will be resolved before they reach crisis level.	YT9MoT0xQJsnAf+zLO8eX8U4RXva5Zl3trwo+Ss2x7JibPMVuqGKVgbvEw/qQCyvCAd3rnkHRAWqLMCi+R85Am52kv4djgv82vHgUO4QmUKGvgFLMqb9gKvV/d2+cfgXKzs24dyDxf/Xo7fzD1UHcbs2tcMPs0Mij5cXqTD3WROIFPK2dA6pnWwny4s=
10. I think that sacrificing now is usually unnecessary, since future outcomes can be dealt with at a later time.	YT9MoT0xQJsnAf+zLO8eX8U4RXva5Zl3trwo+Ss2x7JibPMVuqGKVgbvEw/qQCyvCAd3rnkHRAWqLMCi+R85Am52kv4djgv82vHgUO4QmUKGvgFLMqb9gKvV/d2+cfgXKzs24dyDxf/Xo7fzD1UHcbs2tcMPs0Mij5cXqTD3WROIFPK2dA6pnWwny4s=
11. I only act to satisfy immediate concerns, figuring that I will take care of future problems that may occur at a later date.	YT9MoT0xQJsnAf+zLO8eX8U4RXva5Zl3trwo+Ss2x7JibPMVuqGKVgbvEw/qQCyvCAd3rnkHRAWqLMCi+R85Am52kv4djgv82vHgUO4QmUKGvgFLMqb9gKvV/d2+cfgXKzs24dyDxf/Xo7fzD1UHcbs2tcMPs0Mij5cXqTD3WROIFPK2dA6pnWwny4s=
12. Since my day-to-day work has specific outcomes, it is more important to me than behavior that has distant outcomes.	YT9MoT0xQJsnAf+zLO8eX8U4RXva5Zl3trwo+Ss2x7JibPMVuqGKVgbvEw/qQCyvCAd3rnkHRAWqLMCi+R85Am52kv4djgv82vHgUO4QmUKGvgFLMqb9gKvV/d2+cfgXKzs24dyDxf/Xo7fzD1UHcbs2tcMPs0Mij5cXqTD3WROIFPK2dA6pnWwny4s=
13. When I make a decision, I think about how it might affect me in the future.	YT9MoT0xQJsnAf+zLO8eX8U4RXva5Zl3trwo+Ss2x7JibPMVuqGKVgbvEw/qQCyvCAd3rnkHRAWqLMCi+R85Am52kv4djgv82vHgUO4QmUKGvgFLMqb9gKvV/d2+cfgXKzs24dyDxf/Xo7fzD1UHcbs2tcMPs0Mij5cXqTD3WROIFPK2dA6pnWwny4s=
14. My behavior is generally influenced by future consequences.	YT9MoT0xQJsnAf+zLO8eX8U4RXva5Zl3trwo+Ss2x7JibPMVuqGKVgbvEw/qQCyvCAd3rnkHRAWqLMCi+R85Am52kv4djgv82vHgUO4QmUKGvgFLMqb9gKvV/d2+cfgXKzs24dyDxf/Xo7fzD1UHcbs2tcMPs0Mij5cXqTD3WROIFPK2dA6pnWwny4s=

{true} setModel("q1", qqMC1 )

{true} setModel("q2", qqMC2 )

{true} setModel("q3", qqMC3 )

{true} setModel("q4", qqMC4)

{true} setModel("q5", qqMC5)

{true} setModel("q6", qqMC6)

{true} setModel("q7", qqMC7)

{true} setModel("q8", qqMC8)

{true} setModel("q9", qqMC9)

{true} setModel("q10", qqMC10)

{true} setModel("q11", qqMC11)

{true} setModel("q12", qqMC12)

{true} setModel("q13", qqMC13)

{true} setModel("q14", qqMC14)

{true} setModel("total", (qqMC1+1) + (qqMC2+1) + 5-qqMC3 + 5-qqMC4 + 5-qqMC5 + (qqMC6+1) + (qqMC7+1) + (qqMC8+1) + 5-qqMC9 + 5-qqMC10 + 5-qqMC11 + 5-qqMC12 + (qqMC13+1) + (qqMC14+1) )

Jeff Joireman, Monte Shaffer, Daniel Balliet, and Alan Strathman (2012) developed this "Consideration of Future Consequences" quiz.

Your Score

zentilia/Shutterstock

Your score:

{model.total}

(range is 12 to 70)

Total scores can range from 12 to 70. Higher scores reflect greater consideration of future consequences.

Living with one eye on the future helps us to think big, and delay the gratification of day-to-day temptations in favor of longer-term goals. For example, if we focus on the long-term goal of obtaining our college or university degree, that may help us resist the many daily temptations to avoid our day’s school work.

Even among children, a preference for larger-later rather than smaller-sooner rewards minimizes future risk of gambling and smoking. Future thinking fosters flourishing.

Build This Strength

Would you like to improve your ability to set and achieve important life goals? A big part of maturity—and success in life—is a capacity for delaying gratification and focusing on the future. This ability to postpone immediate gratifications allows us to achieve the greater satisfactions of bigger, future rewards. Those who delay gratification tend to be more conscientious, hopeful, optimistic, and healthy.

To help you focus more effectively on future goals, here are three suggestions to get you started.

Irina oxilixo Danilova/Shutterstock

1. Visualize the costs and benefits. Before you make a choice, consider the costs and benefits. If you choose to study at the library, you will miss out on some immediate fun at your friend’s party. But you should also visualize the long-term rewards of doing well in school. What’s more important—a night of partying now or a lot of success later?

2. Find a healthy distraction. Enjoy some fun and healthy activities. Want to reduce your social networking? Leave your phone at home and go for a walk, grab coffee with a friend, or do a few minutes of quiet meditation. You will miss out on the immediate reward of updated information, but you’ll have better physical health, relationships, and mental well-being.

3. Make it a habit. If you can make future-focusing a habit, you’ll have an easier time achieving your goals. Behaviors become habitual after about 66 days (Lally et al., 2010). Identify one area of life where you struggle to delay gratification, such as staying focused on your studies. Each day, focus on that area and the long-term benefits of resisting daily distractions. In about two months, your effort will pay off. Your responses will become more automatic. You might even wonder why you used to find it hard to delay gratification!

Joireman, J., Shaffer, M., Balliet, D., & Strathman, A. (2012). Promotion orientation explains why future-oriented people exercise and eat healthy: Evidence from the two-factor consideration of future consequences 14 scale. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38, 1272–1287.

Lally, P., Van Jaarsveld, C. H. M., Potts, H. W. W., & Wardle, J. (2010). How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40, 998–1009.

QUIZ

Are you ready for the Quiz? Demonstrate and reinforce your understanding by answering the following questions.

Question

Image Source TAC/Getty Images

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Correct answers
1. b. delay of gratification.
2. a. more
3. c. costs; rewards
4. True
5. d. All of the above