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Feeling connected but dissimilar to one's future self reduces the intention-behavior gap
Benjamin Ganschow1, Sven Zebel2,3, Jean-Louis van Gelder1,4
1Institute of Education and Child Studies, University of Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands.
Plos One
|July 23, 2024
Summary
Bridging the intention-behavior gap is key for goal achievement. Feeling connected to your future self helps, but perceived similarity may hinder progress, contrary to expectations.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- The intention-behavior gap describes the common failure to act on intentions, hindering goal pursuit.
- Prior research links future self-connection and vividness to better behavioral outcomes.
- Understanding factors influencing future-oriented behavior is crucial for interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of imagination-only versus integrated imagination and virtual reality (VR) exposure exercises in reducing the intention-behavior gap.
- To investigate the distinct roles of perceived similarity and connectedness to the future self in bridging this gap.
- To examine the impact of embodying age-morphed future selves via VR on future-oriented behavior.
Main Methods:
- Participants engaged in either an imagination-only exercise or an integrated imagination and VR exposure exercise.
- The VR exercise involved embodying age-morphed future selves to enhance vividness and connection.
- The study measured changes in the intention-behavior gap following the interventions.
Main Results:
- Strengthening connectedness to the future self significantly reduced the intention-behavior gap.
- Conversely, strengthening perceived similarity to the future self unexpectedly widened the intention-behavior gap.
- Both the imagination-only and the integrated VR exercises demonstrated comparable effectiveness in reducing the intention-behavior gap.
Conclusions:
- Feeling connected to one's future self is a critical factor in closing the intention-behavior gap.
- Recognizing dissimilarity to one's future self may play a complex, potentially counterproductive role.
- Future interventions should consider the nuanced relationship between self-perception and future-oriented behavior change, with VR offering a promising avenue for embodied future self-experience.
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