THE MOTIVATIONAL IMPACT OF TEMPORAL FOCUS - THINKING ABOUT THE FUTUREAND THE PAST

In this chapter, we consider the degree to which individuals are pulle d to behave by their conceptions of the future, pushed to act by their recollections of the past, or primarily driven by current exigencies. In examining conceptions of the future, we discuss how individuals br idge the present and the future, the origin of goals, their impact on behavior and cognition, and the motivational underpinnings for inferri ng other people's goals. We then outline four theoretical approaches t o goal prioritization, the motivational impact of proximal vs distal g ods, and the distinction between approaching positive vs avoiding nega tive outcomes. Turning to conceptions of the past, we discuss the moti vational push of the past, the use of the past to select one's goals, the impact current goals have on recall and interpretations of the pas t, and individual differences in using the past. We conclude that temp oral focus provides a meaningful framework for social cognitive approa ches to motivation.