Time perspective

Overview
Time perspective theory is the idea that our perceptions of time influence our emotions, perceptions, and actions.

Most time perspective models break down our time perspectives into chronological categories such as:
 * 1) Past
 * 2) Present
 * 3) Future

Zimbardo's approach further breaks these time perspectives down into five perspectives:
 * 1) Past
 * 2) Past-Positive
 * 3) Past-Negative
 * 4) Present
 * 5) Present-Hedonistic
 * 6) Present-Fatalistic
 * 7) Future

Carelli et al. (2011) argued for a 6-factor model which splits Future into:
 * 1) Future-Positive
 * 2) Future-Negative

In addition, Zimbardo proposes a separate Transcendental time perspective which relates to looking beyond one's individual lifetime.



Future time perspective
The original Zimbardo TP model suggested five factors, including a single future time perspective factor.

Carelli et al (2011) argued that the future time perspective be split into:
 * 1) Future-Positive
 * 2) Future-Negative

The results appear to be mixed for Carelli's TP model.

An alternative, three-factor future TP model is described and tested by Rohr et al. (2017):
 * 1) Opportunity - Perception about positive opportunities available in future time remaining
 * 2) Extension - Perception about amount of time in life remaining
 * 3) Constraint - Perception about barriers and constraints during time remaining

These three components are correlated, and future TP can also be treated a single, overall factor, or as separate components.

Other models and measures

 * Balanced Time Perspectives Scale (Webster, 2011) aims to identify whether individuals have a time perspective bias:
 * Past
 * Future
 * Consideration of Future Consequences Scale (Strathman et al., 1994) operationalises time perspective as consideration of the consequences of actions.
 * Future Time Perspective Scale for Adolescents and Young Adults (Lyu & Huang, 2016)
 * Temporal Focus Scale (Shipp et al., 2009) conceptualises time perspective as an attentional bias.
 * Two Factor Consideration of Future Consequences Scale (Arnocky et al., 2014):
 * Immediate future (i.e., present)
 * Distant future