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Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 32, No. 6, 727-739 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0146167205285896
© 2006 Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.

The Future Is Now: Prospective Temporal Self-Appraisals Among Defensive Pessimists and Optimists

Lawrence J. Sanna

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, sanna{at}unc.edu

Edward C. Chang

University of Michigan

Seth E. Carter

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Eulena M. Small

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Three studies found that prospective temporal self-appraisals can be part of defensive pessimists’ strategy; they felt closer to equally distant negative than positive futures. In Study 1, defensive pessimists felt closer to future failures and reported more negative affect than those considering success. In Study 2, when manipulated negative futures were close, defensive pessimists felt bad and performed well; results suggested that viewing negative futures as close may be part of their natural strategy. Study 3 found that prospective self-appraisals influenced performances through felt preparation. Optimists did not use prospective self-appraisals (Study 1) and their performances were unaffected by manipulated temporal distance (Studies 2 and 3). Discussion centers on prospective self-appraisals and multiple strategies of defensive pessimists.

Key Words: defensive pessimism • temporal self-appraisal • future predictions • time


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