Feelings of the future

Title: Feelings of the future
Creator: Miloyan, Beyon; Suddendorf, Thomas
Date: 2015
Type: Text; Journal article
Identifier: http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/163298
Identifier: vital:12833
Identifier: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2015.01.008
Identifier: ISBN:1364-6613
Abstract: Affective forecasting refers to the capacity to predict future feelings. Humans have been found to exhibit systematic affective forecasting biases that involve overestimation of the intensity and duration of future feelings. Although recent research has elucidated the proximate mechanisms underlying our ability to predict future feelings, explanations concerning the potential adaptive significance of these biases have attracted little attention. Here we consider the function of affective forecasts as signals of biological value, drivers of goal pursuit, and tools for eliciting collaboration. Although affective forecasting biases can have significant costs, for instance in terms of one's pursuit of happiness, they may ultimately serve adaptive functions.
Relation: Trends in Cognitive Sciences Vol. 19, no. 4 (2015), p. 196-200
Rights: This metadata is freely available under a CCO license
Subject: 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences; 11 Medical and Health Sciences; 08 Information and Computing Sciences; Adaptive function; Affective forecast; Episodic foresight; Impact bias; Motivation; Prospection
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