Time the Wisest Counselor: Understanding Individual and Cultural Time Perspectives

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1 Time the Wisest Counselor: Understanding Individual and Cultural Time Perspectives Tammison Smith, MS NCDA Career Development Facilitator Instructor Career Advising and Training Coordinator The Career Services Network Michigan State University

2 I wasted time, and now doth time waste me; Shakespeare We are time s subjects, and time bids begone. Shakespeare Can't bring back time. Like holding water in your hand. James Joyce All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us JRR Tolkien Time will tell... it always does. Doctor Who The bad news is that time flies. The good news is that you're the pilot. Cashback

3 Time Orientation Another key to Culture Polychronic time is much less formal and precise with the focus on the relationship then on the task. Monochronic time is considered segmented, scheduled, arranged and managed. If you want to fast, go alone. If you want to far, go together. Better an egg today, than a hen tomorrow. Nature, time, and patience are three great physicians. A stitch in time saves nine. The early bird gets the worm. Success and rest don t sleep together.

Japan China Monochronic Cultures United States Canada Switzerland

4 General Cultural Breakdown Polychronic Cultures Mexico Latin America Italy Mediterranean France Africa Middle East SE Asia Mixed Cultures Japan China Monochronic Cultures United States Canada Switzerland Germany Great Britain South Korea Taiwan Turkey Australia New Zealand

Task Handling Monochronic People Tend to do one thing at a time when able; Concentrate on the job Place importance on deadlines and take time commitments seriously; Commit to

and more on objectives; Commit to relationships Work Focus Temporal Structure Personal time and Property Reputation Interpersonal Relations Activity Coordination Stick to plans;

Work time clearly separate from personal time. Do not loan personal items easily or often. Change plans often and easily; Time is fluid and flexible.

Emphasis promptness; Relate punctuality to reputation Relate punctuality to the relationship; Base promptness on relationship Interpersonal relations are subordinate to present

5 Task Handling Monochronic People Tend to do one thing at a time when able; Concentrate on the job Place importance on deadlines and take time commitments seriously; Commit to accomplishing task Polychronic People Do several things at the same time (not equal to multitasking); Subject to interruptions and distractible Place less importance on deadlines and more on objectives; Commit to relationships Work Focus Temporal Structure Personal time and Property Reputation Interpersonal Relations Activity Coordination Stick to plans; Time is inflexible; Time is tangible. Value and respect privacy; Breaks and personal time are untouchable regardless of personal relationships. Work time clearly separate from personal time. Do not loan personal items easily or often. Change plans often and easily; Time is fluid and flexible. Value connection; Breaks and personal time are subordinate to personal ties. Work time not clearly separate from personal time. Loan personal property often and easily. Emphasis promptness; Relate punctuality to reputation Relate punctuality to the relationship; Base promptness on relationship Interpersonal relations are subordinate to present schedule; Accept short term relationships Schedule coordinates activity; appointment time is rigid. Present schedule is subordinate to Interpersonal relations; Lean towards life time relationships Interpersonal relations coordinate activity; appointment time is flexible

6 Application of Concept in Career Service International Students and Domestic Interviewing Tell me a saying you learned about time 1. Awareness of differences and tips for success based on time cultures. 2. Promptness vital; monchronic cultures effective time use = respect; limit distraction but be tolerant of others 3. Balance communication between directness and politeness; agenda primary and accomplishing it the goal ask for deviation when needed. 4. Reputation = timely follow- through; use relationship building awareness to foster longer-term connections. Working with College Access Advisors 1. Differences in time culture between high school and college e.g. class bells and monitors vs. self-responsibility for attendance; study hall vs. residence hall study space; lockers vs. residence hall rooms and roommates a) Helping students adjust up 2. Differences in time culture between themselves and their schools e.g. Cultural as well as coming from less external structured college back to structured HS

Cautions Monochronic and polychronic are broad generalizations Not all

time behavior USA = diverse population: Spectrum of monoand polychronic

Work environments tolerate time culture behaviors differently (tardiness

7 Cautions Monochronic and polychronic are broad generalizations Not all aspects fit every person Environment impacts person Technology impacts time behavior USA = diverse population: Spectrum of monoand polychronic people. Different cultures within American culture have own mix. Work environments tolerate time culture behaviors differently (tardiness in academia vs. fire service) Ultimately YOU find a way to make a time culture that works for you!

8 Zimbardo s Time Perspective Shift from societal view to individual Time Perspective (TP) = What happened in the past + what we believe will happen in the future impacting the present The past and future define the present and we behave accordingly TP most often out of conscious awareness Can influences everything from helping behaviors to drinking and driving TP = another key to understanding behavior and modifying it to fully engage in life

9 Time Perspectives -What they do Somewhere between ordering the past and anticipating the future lies our day to day realities. Philip Zimbardo, PhD Six identified Time Perspectives - past, present, or future/ negative or positive Order and give meaning to past, present, and future life events Encode past events give positive or negative meaning to past events Set expectations and goals; help us imagine outcomes for future actions One TP is a preferred functional style Constantly functioning from a TP leads to biases for one TP over the others Ideal = balance of all TPs TP biases can influence behavioral choices: healthy eating; risk taking behavior; sexual experiences; spending time with friends; goal

10 THE PAST PERSPECTIVES Past-Positive Sees present and future through POSITIVE lens of the past Sentimental and strong traditionalists Associates highly with positive selfesteem, low depression and anxiety, and generally predicts a healthy outlook on life Past-Negative Sees present and future through NEGATIVE lens of the past Pessimistic, negative or aversive attitude about the past (may be painful) Associated with depression, aggression, anxiety, escape behaviors (drinking, gambling) and low self-esteem The Good and The Bad of Past Perspectives A positive past = positive future Stuck in a negative past can mar present and future ATTITUDE toward events in past matter more than the events Past events won t change, ATTITUDES toward them can PRACTICE: Thankfulness Challenge; Mental Subtraction of Positive Events

11 Present-Hedonistic Actively seek pleasure and immediate gratification. Avoid tedious, high-effort, and boring situations. Easily tempted and distracted from tasks. NOT influenced by educational or persuasive messages about future. Associated with poor ego control. Not correlated with anxiety or reward dependence. THE PRESENT PERSPECTIVES Present-Fatalistic Future predetermined and uninfluenced by individual actions. Present must be tolerated. Humans are at the mercy of "fate." Associated with high levels of anxiety and depression and low consideration of future consequences. Present- Holistic Past and future past exist within the present. Mindfulness. Give up longing for the future and regretting the past they are fully part of who you are, but they do not distract you from existing in and experiencing the moment.

12 THE PRESENT PERSPECTIVES The Good and The Bad of Present Perspectives Holistic = most balanced TP Live in the moment (not lost in past hurts or worries about the future) = relax, connect with people, enjoy what is happening Process vs product = creativity and innovation FLOW (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) Deep engagement in the PROCESS (losing awareness of self and track of time) Intense and focused concentration on the present moment Experiencing the activity as internally rewarding Hedonistic and Fatalistic TP problematic Research shows < drinking and driving, smoking, no seat belts: > health screenings, condom use, adequate sleep. Behavior change messages less effective. PRACTICE: Meditation, yoga, dog training (my favorite); Raisin Awareness; Five Senses in the Moment

13 PERSPECTIVE Future Most balanced perspective Focus on planning for and achievement of future goals Value delaying current wants to achieve future opportunities Learned perspective from education, maturity and responsibility Societal and familial stability, employment aids development Associated with conscientiousness, consideration of future consequences Weak correlation with anxiety and depression The Good and The Bad of Future Perspectives Tend to take long picture - care about health and mortality Good at problem solving, planning, and goals + school and work achievement Better at managing money More hopeful in face of adversity Too much Future TP can = sacrifice of present (saving all today s income; working overtime) PRACTICE: Mental Simulation (Structured Daydreaming) ID a goal that is short-term, then a little

14 Early Research: GENERATIONS AND TIME Younger age groups (under 30) show a preference for TP Present- Hedonistic (Kairys, 2010) Strong TP Present-Hedonistic preferences tend not do well with goal oriented tasks that require a future orientation (i.e. academics). Higher risk for behaviors with long term negative consequences (drinking and driving; skipping health screenings etc; Keough, Zimbardo, & Boyd, 1999) Shifting TP preferences may happen partly as a result of cognitive and emotional maturation. It may also be a personality trait set early by life experiences (Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999)

15 SPECIAL POPULATIONS AND TIME Populations with diverse backgrounds may have experiences that have shifted their TP preference. Veterans Migrant/immigrant/refugee Students with Disabilities Low-income Refugees tended to be more present oriented and to strictly split off past and limit future considerations (Beiser & Hyman, 1997) Individuals with diabetes with poorer outcomes tended to have negative past and present orientations and limited future orientation (Livneh & Martz, 2007). Higher future orientation aided homeless individuals in making gains through the use of positive coping skills, while individuals with present orientation used more avoidant coping (Epel, Bandura, & Zimbardo, 1999) There is a therapy method based on time perspective designed for

16 YOUR TURN To try the Zimbardo Time Preference Inventory and learn more:

17 Selected References Beiser, M., & Hyman, I. (1997). Refugees' time perspective and mental health. American Journal of Psychiatry, 154(7), Boniwell, E. O., Linley, A., & Ivanchenko, G. (2010). A question of balance: Time Perspectives and well-being in British and Russian samples. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(1), Cottle, T. J. (1968). The location of experience: A manifest time orientation. Acta Psychologica, 28, Epel, E. S., Bandura, A., & Zimbardo, P. G. (1999). Escaping homelessness: The influences of self efficacy and time perspective on coping with homelessness. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 29(3), Kairys, A. (2010). Correlations between Time Perspectives and Personality Traits in Different Age Groups. Tiltai, 2, Link: Kaufman-Scarborough, C., & Lindquist, J. D. (1999). Time Management and Polychronicity: Comparisons, Contrasts, and Insights for the Workplace. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 14(3/4), Keough, K. A., Zimbardo, P. G., & Boyd, J. N. (1999). Who's smoking, drinking, and using drugs? Time perspective as a predictor of substance use.basic and applied social psychology, 21(2), Koehler-Jones, V. (1995). Disaster responder's perception of time. Conference Proceedings. Levine, R. (1997). A geography of time: The temporal misadventures of a social psychologist, or how every culture keeps time just a little bit differently. New York, New York: Basic Books. Livneh, H., & Martz, E. (2007). Reactions to diabetes and their relationship to time orientation. International journal of rehabilitation Research, 30(2),

Future-Mindedness Glossary

Future-Mindedness Glossary At-Risk Population: segments of students/youth who are less likely to transition successfully into adulthood and achieve economic self-sufficiency, with characteristics that