Feeling connected to younger versus older selves: The asymmetric impact of life stage orientation

Abstract

The concept of life-stage orientation is proposed. Youth is a period of time characterised by strong feelings and emotions, but weak reasoning and cognitive skill. Conversely, adulthood is characterised by strong rationality, but weak emotionality. Two studies revealed that merely bringing these concepts to mind changes real-time feelings and behaviour. Participants who were instructed to act like their “adult” selves exhibited greater self-control in a cold pressor test than control participants and those who acted like their “youth” selves (Experiment 1). However, being induced to feel connected to youth enhanced enjoyment for fun videos (Experiment 2). Hence, the extent to which people are oriented towards youth versus adulthood has asymmetric costs and benefits for the present. Connecting to youth boosts experiential capacities (in this case, enjoying oneself) at the cost of agency, whereas connecting to adulthood boosts agentic capacities (in this case, exerting will-power) at the cost of experience.

Keywords:

• Time
• Self
• Life stages
• Enjoyment
• Self-control

This manuscript was supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship that was awarded to the corresponding author. Linda Hagen, Phoebe Ellsworth, Leaf Van Boven, Richard Nisbett, Ethan Kross and Norbert Schwarz shared invaluable feedback and discussion.

This manuscript was supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship that was awarded to the corresponding author. Linda Hagen, Phoebe Ellsworth, Leaf Van Boven, Richard Nisbett, Ethan Kross and Norbert Schwarz shared invaluable feedback and discussion.