Prediction of delay discounting in intertemporal decisions by future thinking: Accounting for fluency, contents, and functions of future thoughts

Abstract

Purpose To study the variations of delay discounting rates as a function of fluency, contents, and functions of future thoughts in healthy subjects. Background Delay discounting (DD) is a concept that can measure a frequent tendency toward smaller, yet immediate rewards, while a delayed reward is greater in value. DD describes people's choices in intertemporal decisions and is associated with self‐control. Future thinking (FT) and having a vivid imagination of the future can reduce individuals’ DD rates. However, constructing a specific episodic future representation was merely studied in relation to DD. Although fluency and contents of future thoughts have been reported related to various disorders and behaviors, their association with DD has not been previously addressed. Methods The present study applies a verbal fluency task named the personal future task (PFT), the functions of future thinking scale (FoFTS), and the 27‐item delay discounting questionnaire (DDQ) in order to assess fluency, contents, and functions of future thoughts, and delay discounting in healthy subjects ( N = 114, Female = 64%, Male = 36%, Mage = 34.22, SDage = 7.15). Results Findings indicate that fluency of future thoughts is associated with DD. Among the contents of FT categories, financial contents (future thoughts about money and real estate matters), and regarding functions of FT, engaging in FT for planning are related to DD. Due to the final model, the above‐mentioned correlated variables can be considered as significant predictors of intertemporal choices when controlling for education and gender ( R 2 = 0.4, Adjusted R 2 = 0.33, F = 5.186, p ‐value = 0.001). Conclusion The frequency of future thoughts one can generate, specifically future thoughts about financial contents, is associated with less short‐sighted intertemporal decisions. The former relationship is enhanced for longer delays (e.g., 5–10 years). Besides, individuals who frequently engage in FT for planning (planning out sequences of actions) discount future rewards to a lesser extent.