TICK TOCK: What does your personal clock say?

The Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory originally set out 5, then 6 time orientations -with future negative added by Carelli to take us to 7: 

• Past Positive: a warm and sentimental attitude towards the past.  Can correlate with good self-esteem and a lack of anxiety.  Can assist parties to have a stable sense of self and provide strength in the mediation process.

 

• Past Negative: generally negative and aversive view of the past – which may arise from traumatic events or from a negative reconstruction of past events, or both.  Can lead people to avoid change, being excessively conservative and cautious.  They may seek to sustain the status quo even when not in their best interests. Their behavior in mediation may be influenced by recalling what did not work in the past and in similar circumstances.

 

• Present Hedonist: hedonistic, risk taking and excitement-seeking attitude.  The focus is on current pleasure with high impulsivity and little concern for consequences.  Present Hedonists are not interested in cost-benefit analysis. They may focus on short term gains rather than long term benefits.
  
• Present Fatalist: a fatalistic attitude to the present and future.  A belief that life is predestined and uninfluenced by individual actions. Can be associated with a sense of hopelessness. 

 
For the present oriented they may focus on concrete factors in the immediate, sensory present while minimizing abstract qualities relevant to a decision that exists only in an anticipated future.  It can be difficult for them to delay gratification and they may be easily distracted. They may be uninterested in considering the impact of their decisions today on future consequences.

• Future: general future orientation where behavior is dominated by striving to meet future goals and rewards.  This dimension correlates with conscientiousness, and the consideration of future consequences.

 

• Transcendental Future: an orientation whereby an individual is focused on the life after death – so strongly correlated to religious and spiritual beliefs where this life is preparation for the next life.

 

• Future Negative: a dimension where thinking about the future is correlated with worry and anxiety.  This dimension anticipates negative outcomes. 

For the future oriented the focus will be on reasoning, abstract ideas and a clear concern about consequences. They may be better able to focus on the importance of long-term goals e.g. how well adjusted their children will be following separation. They may be very focused on efficiency and micro-planning.

Next week, what does this mean in conflict and mediation?

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