Consideration of future consequences, ego-depletion, and self-control: Support for distinguishing between CFC-Immediate and CFC-Future sub-scales

We examine how individual differences in the consideration of future consequences (Strathman et al., 1994) impact trait self-control, and temporal discounting under conditions of ego-depletion. Study 1 (N = 986) reveals that the CFC scale contains two underlying factors, which can be labeled the CFC-Immediate (CFC-I) and CFC-Future (CFC-F) sub-scales. Supporting the distinction between the two sub-scales, Study 2 (N = 147) shows that lower levels of trait self-control are best predicted by higher levels of CFC-I (not CFC-F), while Study 3 (N = 104) reveals that ego-depletion leads to more temporal discounting only among those high in CFC-I. Future use of the two sub-scales is encouraged.

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