Experiencing Buddhist practices promotes nonbelievers’ preference for future rewards in intertemporal choices

Abstract

AbstractReligious individuals often prefer future rewards more in intertemporal decision‐making than nonreligious individuals, but the reasons behind this preference remain under‐investigated. Focusing on decision‐making in Buddhist culture, the current study aimed to examine three potential mechanisms: Buddhist practices, self‐control and belief in future‐oriented concepts. In five studies, we consistently found that nonbelievers’ preference ratings for Larger and Later (LL) options increased after visiting a temple (Study 1, n = 99) or participating in Buddha name chanting (Studies 2–5, n = 314). We also found in Studies 3 and 4 that this effect was mediated by the individual's level of self‐control, but no evidence was found to support the mediation of belief in future‐oriented concepts. These results contribute to the work attesting to the effect of religious practices on individuals (especially nonbelievers). They also provide a mechanism (self‐control) for the positive correlation between individuals’ religiousness and preference for future rewards in intertemporal decision‐making.