title: Age differences in future orientation and delay discounting.
abstract: Age differences in future orientation are examined in a sample of 935 individuals between 10 and 30 years using a delay discounting task as well as a new self-report measure. Younger adolescents consistently demonstrate a weaker orientation to the future than do individuals aged 16 and older, as reflected in their greater willingness to accept a smaller reward delivered sooner than a larger one that is delayed, and in their characterizations of themselves as less concerned about the future and less likely to anticipate the consequences of their decisions. Planning ahead, in contrast, continues to develop into young adulthood. Future studies should distinguish between future orientation and impulse control, which may have different neural underpinnings and follow different developmental timetables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. lds@temple.edu
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woolard
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cauffman
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009949:Orientation; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012201:Reward; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013998:Time Perception; D055815:Young Adult