Empiricial research on hope, expected effect and future time perspecti
ves has employed a variety of different time frames. This research not
e contends that the effect of these time frames, frequently establishe
d by temporal instructions, merits further investigation. The present
research compares four sets of time frame instructions with college st
udents in the mid-west of the USA. Results indicate a significant incr
ease of hope across the three specific time frames (with hope 'in the
next five years' being the greatest). While pessimism and hope for oth
ers did not vary with projected time, optimism and hope for self saw a
n increase through the specific time frames. Consequently, an asymmetr
y of 'situational' versus 'dispositional' self attribution for the pas
t and future is proposed for this student population. We suggest that
the self/other temporal distinction may be a fruitful area for cross c
ultural exploration.