BIO

Hello, My name is Sofia Schultz and I am from Tampa, Florida. I am a sophomore here at Florida State University studying psychology and art entrepreneurship. I currently work as a Registered Behavioral Therapist and hope to finish my education and pursue a career in clinical psychology.

Life History Theory & Goal Time Horizons: An evolutionary perspective

Abstract

Life history theory is a conceptual framework in evolutionary psychology for understanding psychological and physiological outcomes in adulthood. From a life history perspective, early childhood environmental experiences – the levels of unpredictability and harshness – have calibrated people towards faster versus slower developmental trajectories. Faster developmental trajectories are characterized by earlier onsets of puberty and sexual exploration, higher externalizing behaviors, impulsivity, and substance abuse. Slower life trajectories characterize people who develop in stable and resource-abundant environments. These individuals tend to exhibit a later onset of pubertal timing and sexual exploration, lower levels of externalizing behaviors, and an ability to delay immediate gratification (i.e., less impulsive). The current work tests the hypothesis that individuals who perceived higher levels of unpredictability in childhood tend to set and have goals on shorter time horizons than people who perceived their childhood environments as relatively more predictable. The current research provides evidence for robust associations between perceptions of childhood unpredictability and goal time horizons. The association between unpredictability and goal timing was observed over and above perceptions of childhood harshness, levels of maternal disruption in childhood, current emotional stability, and a range of demographic characteristics. We also examined potential mechanisms for the association between unpredictability and goal time horizons. Participants’ levels of consideration of future consequences mediated the association between perceived childhood unpredictability and goal time horizons. This research adds to a growing body of work interested in understanding how childhood environments have implications for the life trajectory of individuals.

Keywords: psychology, evolutionary, unpredictability, goal time, Life History