Destiny or control of one’s future? Fatalistic time perspective and self-esteem in extraverts and introverts

Abstract

A sense of control over time and over what is happening in life is highly significant for psychological functioning. The aim of this experiment was to test the effect of fatalistic time perspective on self-esteem in extraverts and introverts. We conducted an experiment in which fatalistic time perspective was induced in participants (N = 104) high and low in extraversion. The experimental group’s task was to put themselves into the situation of the presented character, who exhibited a strongly fatalistic time perspective. The results showed that introverts after the induction of fatalistic time perspective had higher self-esteem than introverts after neutral induction. There was no significant difference in self-esteem between extraverts after the induction of fatalistic time perspective and extraverts after neutral induction. We interpreted the results in the context of the interactive model of fatalism.

Keywords:

• Experiment
• fatalistic time perspective
• time perspective
• Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Adam Ziółkowski, MA, and Daniel Kowalski, MA, for their help in preparing the material for state fatalistic perspective induction. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, AP, upon reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

Authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The present research was supported by grant 2015/19/D/HS6/01690 from the National Science Center (Poland) for the project titled: “The ways of thinking about time and coping with negative mood according to the level of extraversion.”