Increasing anticipated and anticipatory pleasure through episodic thinking.
David John Hallford1, Helen Farrell1, Ebony Lynch1
1School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University.
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|June 20, 2020
Summary
Guided episodic future thinking enhances anticipated pleasure for positive future events. This mental imagery technique may benefit individuals with depression and schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Episodic future thinking (EFT) for positive events is linked to positive affect.
- The specific impact of EFT on anticipated pleasure and behavioral intentions requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if EFT for positive future events evokes anticipated and anticipatory pleasure and behavioral intention.
- To compare EFT for future events with thinking about past positive events.
Main Methods:
- Two studies involved participants nominating and then engaging in guided episodic thinking of past and future positive events.
- Participants rated events on vividness, mental imagery, pleasure, and behavioral intention.
Main Results:
- Guided EFT increased detail/vividness, mental imagery, and anticipated/anticipatory pleasure for future events.
- Study 2 showed stronger effects for future events compared to past events, with no changes in perceived control or intention.
- Increases in mental imagery and pleasure positively correlated with behavioral intention.
Conclusions:
- Guided episodic thinking effectively enhances anticipated and anticipatory pleasure for positive future events.
- Findings suggest potential clinical applications for disorders characterized by negative affect and anhedonia, such as depression and schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
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