Cognitive Correlates of Polychronicity

Abstract

Polychronicity, defined as the ability to cope with stimulus-intense, information-overloaded environments, was operationalized as a 25-item scale assessing the reported degree to which individuals structure their physical and interpersonal environments within the context of time and space. The validity of the construct of polychronicity was assessed by predicting directional relationships to cognitive complexity and intelligence. The analyses support the hypotheses. Results are discussed regarding the ability of the construct to predict coping reactions to overloaded environmental transactions. A theoretical model of polychronicity is advanced.