Modeling the Temporal Extension of Self-Continuity

Explorations were hampered on the association between the decrease in self-continuity (i.e., feeling less connected with one’s more distant past and future selves) and temporal discounting (i.e., the tendency to devalue delayed outcomes) due to methodological limitations. The present study examines this association between self-continuity and monetary discounting and whether both decrements can be governed by the same mathematical function. Two lifespan samples of local (n=91) and nationwide (n=485) adults were recruited. Participants indicated past and future self-continuity at multiple intervals and money they demand to delay an immediate reward for the same future intervals. We examined the correlations between averages of self-continuity and monetary discounting and fitted them with four prevalent discounting models (exponential/hyperbolic/q-exponential/quasi-hyperbolic).