Time perspective and attitude-behaviour consistency in future-oriented behaviours.
The authors propose that the salience of a distant-future time perspective, compared to a near-future time perspective, should increase attitude-behaviour and attitude-intention consistency for future-oriented behaviours. To test this prediction, time perspective was experimentally manipulated in three studies. Across studies, participants in the distant-future time perspective condition demonstrated a strong positive relationship between attitudes towards future-oriented behaviours (saving and environmental protection) and corresponding intentions, as well as between attitudes and behaviour. In the near-future time perspective condition, the relationship between attitudes and intentions and attitudes and behaviour was significantly weaker than in the distant-future time perspective condition. The theoretical implications of these results and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Rabinovich
Anna
A
School of Psychology, University of Exeter, UK. a.rabinovich@ex.ac.uk
Morton
Thomas
T
Postmes
Tom
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D001519:Behavior; D035841:Behavioral Research; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D012933:Social Identification; D013997:Time Factors