Alexandria Digital Research Library

Individual differences in temporal perspective may influence cognitive control strategies

Author:
Steindam, Chloe Dylan
Degree Grantor:
University of California, Santa Barbara. Psychology
Degree Supervisor:
Stanley B. Klein
Place of Publication:
[Santa Barbara, Calif.]
Publisher:
University of California, Santa Barbara
Creation Date:
2016
Issued Date:
2016
Topics:
Cognitive psychology
Genres:
Online resources and Dissertations, Academic
Dissertation:
M.A.--University of California, Santa Barbara, 2016
Description:

Research accumulating over the past 50+ years indicates that individuals who are future-oriented (FO) make wiser health decisions, have greater academic achievement, and have overall higher levels of well-being than individuals who are present- or past-oriented. The present study focuses on the cognitive differences in temporal perspective as a trait by addressing the hypothesis that high-FO individuals have increased cognitive control as compared to low-FO individuals. While a number of studies have examined the traits that influence cognitive control strategies---e.g. reward-sensitivity, threat-sensitivity, anxiety---none have addressed temporal perspective. Using recognition memory decision-making strategies as a medium for addressing cognitive control differences, the present study is able to address the recognition memory literature on individual differences in criterion shifting as well. The first hypothesis was that high-FO participants adopt an overall more conservative criterion in a recognition memory test than low-FO participants. The results revealed no correlation between temporal orientation and criterion placement. The second hypothesis was that high-FO participants will perform better than low-FO participants on the Recent-Probes task, a working memory task known to engage a proactive control strategy. No significant differences were found due to ceiling effects, therefore it remains unclear whether there is an inherent difference between high-FO and low-FO individuals in regards to working memory.

Physical Description:
1 online resource (22 pages)
Format:
Text
Collection(s):
UCSB electronic theses and dissertations
ARK:
ark:/48907/f38k7966
ISBN:
9781369146653
Catalog System Number:
990046969140203776
Rights:
Inc.icon only.dark In Copyright
Copyright Holder:
Chloe Steindam
File Description
Access: Public access
Steindam_ucsb_0035N_13012.pdf pdf (Portable Document Format)