Taking time seriously - A theory of socioemotional selectivity

Socioemotional selectivity theory claims that the perception of time plays a fundamental role in the selection and pursuit of social goals. According to the theory, social motives fall into 1 of 2 general categories-those rel ated to the acquisition of knowledge and those related to the regulation of emotion. When time is perceived as open-ended, knowledge-related goals are prioritized. In contrast when time is perceived as limited, emotional goal s assume primacy. The inextricable association between time left in life an d chronological age ensures age-related differences in social goals. Noneth eless, the authors show that the perception of time is malleable, and socia l goals change in both younger and older people when time constraints are i mposed The authors argue that time perception is integral to human motivati on and suggest potential implications for multiple subdisciplines and resea rch interests in social, developmental, cultural, cognitive, and clinical p sychology.