As humans we have a remarkable capacity to sacrifice for the future, and an equally remarkable capacity to shortchange it, leaving our future selves to pay the price. The research in this dissertation suggests that sacrifice for the future (patience) may be governed by the same rules that govern sacrifice for others (altruism). Studies found that (1) patience was positively correlated with altruism, and (2) patience was positively correlated with empathic accuracy, a measure that predicted altruism. A third set of studies found that (3) a pervasive influence on altruism--group membership--also influenced patience. Participants who expected to switch groups in the future felt less connected to their future selves and left more than twice as much unpleasant work to the future. This research provides converging support for the hypothesis that common factors promote altruism and patience, suggesting that we may be able to draw on the decades of research studying kindness toward others to promote a little more kindness toward our future selves. / Psychology

abstract: Individuals differ in the extent to which they feel connected to their future selves, which predicts time preference (i.e., preference for immediate versus delayed utility), financial decision-making, delinquency, and academic performance. Future self-connectedness may also predict how individuals compare themselves with their past selves, future selves, and other people. Greater connectedness may lead to more self-affirming types of temporal self-comparison, less self-deflating types of temporal self-comparison, and less social comparison. Two studies examined the relation between future self-connectedness and comparison processes, as well as effects on emotion, psychological adjustment, and motivation. In the first study, as expected, future self-connectedness positively predicted self-affirming temporal self-comparison and negatively predicted self-deflating temporal self-comparison and social comparison. In addition, future self-connectedness had beneficial direct and indirect effects on adjustment, emotion regulation, and motivation. Unlike previous research, this study examined all three components of future self-connectedness, as opposed to only one. Exploratory analyses examined the items comprising the similarity-connectedness component and found that the relation of these items to the other variables in the model did not differ, though some of the relations in the model were moderated by college generation status. The second study tested whether increasing future self-connectedness would have similar effects on comparison, adjustment, emotion, and motivation. It implemented a pilot future self-connectedness manipulation, an established identity-stability manipulation, and a control condition. The pilot manipulation and identity-stability manipulation failed to affect future self-connectedness relative to control, and did not affect comparison, motivation, adjustment, or emotion. Future research should ascertain whether there is a causal link between connectedness and social comparison or temporal self-comparison processes. Overall, this research links future self-connectedness to social comparison and temporal self-comparison processes, as well as well-being, emotion, and motivation, which demonstrates the importance of connectedness in new, important areas. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2018

Future self-continuity has been noted as a major factor that determines unethical business decisions, but its mediating effect on the difference in individuals from cross-cultural settings is yet to be adequately examined. This study investigated unethical business decisions of Eastern and Western Nigerians; and the mediating role of future self-continuity. A total of 197 post graduate university students selected through convenience sampling were used for the cross-sectional study. Participants filled a self-administered close ended questionnaire measuring their unethical business decisions and future self-continuity. Pearson correlation analysis, independent t-test and Baron and Kenny’s method of mediation analysis were used to analyze the data collected. Result revealed that greater future self-continuity led to fewer unethical business decisions. Significant differences were noticed in the expression of unethical business and future self-continuity of Eastern and Western Nigerians. Future self-continuity did not mediate the difference noticed between the Eastern and Western Nigerians in their unethical business decision. In conclusion, future self-continuity is not a significant mediator of the observed difference in unethical business decisions of Eastern and Western Nigerians.

The present study deals with the predictive role of past and future self-continuity on procrastination at work. Self-continuity refers to how connected individuals feel to their past and future selves. Procrastination at work is a common issue with negative consequences for individuals and organizations. Previous research has shown a relationship between procrastination in the academic context and future self-continuity. Individuals with lower levels of future self-continuity are more likely to procrastinate because they perceive their future selves as strangers. The present study examines both past and future self-continuity in relation to procrastination in the workplace, rather than focusing on the academic domain. We collected quantitative data using an online questionnaire to answer the research questions. The results showed that both, past and future self-continuity, significantly predicted procrastination at work. Past self-continuity proved to be a stronger predictor than future self-continuity. Even after controlling for conscientiousness, past self-continuity robustly predicted procrastination at work. The mediation analysis did not show significant results for consideration of future consequences as a mediator. These findings emphasize the importance of considering individuals' connections to their past selves in understanding procrastination at work. They underscore the need for interventions that promote reflection on past experiences and goal setting to reduce procrastination tendencies. Our study provides new insights into self-continuity and procrastination in an organizational context and initiates future research and practical interventions.

This research explored the perception of the incorporation of ‘future-self’ for young people (YP) moving from specialist provision for children where the Local Authority have identified the provision as Moderate Learning Difficulties and additional needs, their parent/carers views, and the perspectives of professionals supporting their transition to mainstream further education. The ‘future-self’ approach had its basis in social cognitive theory, as the creation of imagined ‘future-selves’ is thought to influence an individual’s behaviour to aid them to work towards their aspired self (Baker, 2015; Markus & Nurius, 1986; Oysterman & James, 2011). Phase one used a case study methodology using semi-structured interviews to explore the YP and their parent/carer’s experience of transition planning having included the young person’s vision of their ‘future-self’, at aged 16. Materials were designed to aid their understanding using visual support. Phase two gained the views of YP using focus groups as they approach transition out of FE at aged 19 or older into continued training, employment, and on towards adulthood, in relation to inclusion of their vision of their ‘future-self’ in this preparation. This phase also explored the perceptions of the professionals for incorporating the young person’s view of their ‘future-self’ using semi-structured interviews. Interview transcripts were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six stage thematic analysis to identify themes in the data. Focus groups were thematically analysed using Ritchie and Spencer’s (1994) five stage analysis. A number of themes were found for the YP at both stages, the parents/carers and the professionals. Findings indicated that the YP are more involved in the transition planning and a range of methods are applied to prepare the YP however there are a number of barriers still limiting the options for the YP such as: lack of choice available, protectiveness of others, low aspirations, failure to explore holistic longer term outcomes, insufficient multi-agency involvement, overreliance on parents, and the need for more effective strategic planning and awareness of the systems around the YP. The findings from this research indicate that applying a ‘future-selves’ approach for YP as a method to generate future aspirations to motivate YP’s behaviour has been effective as a tool to add to existing transition preparations. This could act as a way to overcome the currently existing poorer long term outcomes for YP with this population. Based upon this small scale project, further investigation would be required to assess the benefit for a wider population.

This thesis explores what Karlstad Airport needs to go 100% green. Photovoltaics are assumed to be installed at the facility and a Hydrogen Energy Storage System and Battery Energy Storage System will be evaluated to reduce peaks during charging of the planes. Different power peak limits are explored as well as different sized Energy Storage Systems and later evaluated economically. A method to find the cheapest possible system is created with some assumptions and is then used to evaluate throughout the whole dataset. In the end any of the different sized Energy Storage Systems reduces the profitability when considering each systems expected lifecycle.