Frédéric Martinez

Time under control: time perspective and desire for control in substance use.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of time perspective and desire for control in self-reported substance use and to test for a moderating effect of desire for control in the relation between time perspective and substance use. PROCEDURE A random sample of 240 persons, aged 15 years and over, selected in various public spaces in an urban region in central France. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Time perspective was measured using subscales of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI, Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999), Desire for control was measured using a translated version of the Desire for Control Scale (DCS, Burger & Cooper, 1979), and substance use was self-reported. RESULTS After controlling for age and gender, significant links were found between time perspective and substance use. Desire for control did not appear to be directly related to substance use. The interaction effect between TP and desire for control appeared to be related to substance use. There was evidence that the relation between TP and substance use is buffered by low desire for control. CONCLUSION This study converges with previous studies demonstrating the relation between TP and substance use, but provides evidence of the moderating role played by desire for control. Desire for control thus appears as worthy of interest in the analysis of self-regulatory process, and further research on the links between TP and various aspects of control is required. In order to be more effective, the design of future studies and interventions based on time-related issues should consider how desire for control plays a part in establishing vulnerability profiles.

Active involvement, not illusory control, increases risk taking in a gambling game

The research considers the influence of choice (the possibility for the player to choose a gamble or another) and involvement (the physical interaction with the gambling device) on risk taking in gambling games and whether this influence is mediated by illusory control over the outcome of the gamble. Results of a laboratory experiment (n = 100) show that (a) although choice does increase illusory control, this influence does not translate in increased risk taking, and (b) whilst involvement does increase risk taking, this effect is not mediated by illusory control. These results are discussed in relation to problem gambling, beliefs in the deployability of personal luck, and arousal approaches to risk taking.

Time and the Misfits: Temporal Framing and Priming in Persuasive Communication

Many of our daily choices and behaviors involve temporal dilemma between their short and long-term consequences. When promoting sustainable or healthy behaviors, great parts of the public propaganda are temporally framed by emphasizing the long-term benefits of short-term costly behaviors. Yet, previous studies highlighted how crucial is to take into consideration not only the temporal frame of the message, but also the persons’ time perspective, to assess the efficacy and the potential counter effects of temporally framed communications. This chapter reviews findings and issues related to temporal framing in persuasive communications, and highlights how time perspective is a crucial factor in making communications effective- or not. We also present new findings suggesting that a solution could be to prime the context in which a message is delivered, in order to make this context congruent with the message frame or the individuals’ orientation, or both. From this contextual level of framing that may be helpful to avoid “negative nudge” effects in heath or environmental information campaigns, we suggest a few directions for future research.