Abstract
The aim of the research presented in this article is to investigate the relationship between positive orientation and time perspective as outlined by Zimbardo and Boyd (J Pers Soc Psychol 77:1271–1288, 1999) and extended by an additional form of concentration on the present. The Polish version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory was used. A third type of present time perspective, namely active concentration on the present, was measured by the Carpe Diem Scale. One hundred and eighty five Polish people (non-students) participated in a survey to which a canonical-correlation analysis and a cluster analysis were applied. Positive orientation was correlated with a balanced temporal profile comprising a strong positive past orientation, moderate concentration on the future, poor fatalistic time perspective, poor concentration on the negative past and moderate active concentration on the present. Whereas a positive orientation is based on a general positive attitude towards life and self, a balanced time perspective reflects a general positive attitude towards time, in which an active concentration on the present plays an important role.
Highlights
The question of optimal attitude towards time preoccupies both researchers and ordinary people trying to pursue happiness in everyday life
We used cluster analysis to verify the third hypothesis that active concentration on the present is a significant component of the BTW profile, as it was defined by Zimbardo and Boyd (1999)
The strongest negative relationship with positive orientation (PO) components appeared in the case of negative past (Pearsons‘r equals from -.42 to -.47, p \ .001), whereas for fatalistic present orientation (Pearsons‘r equals from -.12 to .06, p ni), there were no relationships at all, consistent for all three components of PO
Summary
The question of optimal attitude towards time preoccupies both researchers and ordinary people trying to pursue happiness in everyday life. Some people believe that happiness means positive memories, while others assume that happiness comes down to achieving goals and planning for the future. Jankowski happiness in different time perspectives (TP). Is it right, to attach significance to only one of the time dimensions (the past, the present or the future) and belittle the importance of the other dimensions? When a deep positive concentration on the past is combined with a deep concentration on the future, its relationship with well-being will be different than if it were combined with a poor concentration on the future. One might assume that an analysis of a person’s temporal profile, that is, an analysis of intensity of particular elements of the TP structure, is an important source of knowledge about that person
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