Abstract

This study aims to expand the research on cultural differences in future self-continuity. Specifically, the study measured holistic thinking style and a long-term orientation, known to be predominant in East Asian culture, at the dispositional and contextual levels, and explored how these tendencies influence perceiving future self-continuity. The result showed that a holistic thinking style and long-term orientation increased future self-continuity. Also, these relationships were mediated by the proximity of the future time distance. This study presents the need to explore various variables related to future self-continuity. This study aimed to build upon prior research regarding cultural differences in individuals' perceptions of their future selves in both East and West contexts. More specifically, it sought to investigate whether a higher degree of holistic thinking and long-term orientation were associated with an enhanced sense of future self-continuity, irrespective of cultural contexts. To test this hypothesis, Study 1 examined how individual differences in holistic thinking and long-term orientation might impact future self-continuity. In Studies 2 and 3, holistic thinking styles and long-term orientation were experimentally manipulated to assess the resulting differences in future self-continuity among groups. The study's findings indicated that individuals with a more holistic thinking style and a stronger long-term orientation exhibited a heightened sense of future self-continuity. Furthermore, it was discovered that this relationship was mediated by the perception of temporal proximity. Overall, this research underscores the significance of exploring various factors that may influence an individual's perception of future self-continuity.