Revisiting the Role of Perceived Time Horizons in Socioemotional Selectivity Theory

Friday, November 4, 2022

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Location: 244 CC

CE: 1.5

Chair(s)

Li Chu, PhD

Postdoc
Psychology
Stanford University
Menlo Park, California, United States

Slides

Discussant(s)

Laura Carstensen, PhD

Professor
Psychology
Stanford University
Palo Alto, California, United States

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

RK

Rebekah Knight, MA

PhD Candidate
NC State University
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
YS

Yochai Shavit, PhD

Director of Research
Psychology
Stanford Center on Longevity, Stanford University
Stanford, California, United States
SB

Sarah Barber, PhD

Associate Professor of Psychology
Psychology
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Tyler Matteson, BS

Lab Manager
Psychology
Stanford University
Stanford, California, United States

This symposium will consider the ways that time horizons may influence motivation and emotional well-being. Socioemotional selectivity theory postulates that goals and motivation shift from ones about learning and exploration to ones about emotional meaning as time horizons grow constrained as people age. This theory maintains that a focus on emotional goals explains why older adults tend to show better emotional well-being compared to younger adults. Many studies use the Future Time Perspective scale developed by Carstensen and Lang (1996) to measure perceived time left in life. However, several studies find more limited future time perspective does not contribute to better emotional well-being nor more positivity bias in cognitive processing and in some cases predicts poorer emotional well-being. The first presentation will focus on the future time perspective scale and its underlying structure. The second presentation will discuss the association between future time perspective and psychosocial well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The third presentation will review different measures of time perception and examine the relationship between future time perspective on age-related positivity effect. The last presentation will introduce a new concept and measurement, time savoring. Laura Carstensen will synthesize findings and offer insights regarding future life-span research on motivation and well-being.

Learning Objectives:

After attending this session, participants will be able to better understand the relationships between chronological age, different time perception measures, and psychosocial well-being.
After attending this session, participants will further their theoretical understanding of the “paradox of aging”.
After attending this session, participants will learn about novel conceptualizations and measurements of time perception for life-span research.

Presentations:

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

The Dimensionality of Future Time Perspective
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Rebekah Knight, MA – NC State University
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Limited Future Time Perspective Is Associated with Lower Emotional Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Yochai Z. Shavit, PhD – Stanford Center on Longevity, Stanford University
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Examining the Relationship Between Future Time Perspective and Positivity Effects
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Sarah J. Barber, PhD – Georgia State University
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Time Horizons Versus Time Savoring: Which Best Predicts Age-Related Improvements in Emotional Well-Being?
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Tyler J. Matteson, BS – Stanford University