The consideration of future consequences: Weighing immediate and distant outcomes of behavior.

TLDR

The study introduces the consideration of future consequences (CFC) construct, positing it as a stable individual difference in weighing distant versus immediate behavioral outcomes. The authors describe the CFC construct, develop and validate a measure of it, and review evidence that CFC regulates affective responses to negative events. Data from seven college student samples show the CFC measure has acceptable reliability and validity, and its utility is demonstrated in two studies.

Abstract

We propose a new construct called consideration of future consequences (CFC), which is hypothesized to be a stable individual difference in the extent to which people consider distant versus immediate consequences of potential behaviors. Following a description of the construct itself, a measure of this individual difference is developed and validated. Data collected from 7 samples of college students indicates that the measure has acceptable reliability and validity. In addition, evidence of the role of CFC in regulating affective responses to negative events is reviewed. The utility of the CFC construct is demonstrated in 2 studies