Psychological connectedness and intertemporal choice.

• DOI: 10.1037/a0018062
• Publication Date: 2010-02-02T14:27:45Z
• Authors: Daniel M. Bartels; Lance J. Rips
• Keywords: Social Connectedness; Value (mathematics); Decision maker; Intertemporal choice

People tend to attach less value a good if they know delay will occur before obtain it. For example, people receiving $100 tomorrow more than in 10 years. We explored one reason for this tendency (due Parfit, 1984): In terms of psychological properties, such as beliefs, values, and goals, the decision maker is closely linked person (his or her future self) reason, he she prefers his nearer self have rather remote self. Studies 1 2 showed that greater rated connection between parts participant's life, discounted monetary nonmonetary benefits (e.g., days at work) over interval. 3-5, participants read about characters who undergo large life-changing (and connectedness-weakening) events different points their lives then made decisions timing on behalf these characters. All 5 studies revealed relation perceived connectedness intertemporal choice: Participants preferred changes but costs after changes.