An exploratory approach to time perspective theory and research

Abstract

The Time Perspective theoretical model proposed by Zimbardo & Boyd (1999) has been very prolifi c in the quantity and quality of research produced in the last decade. However, taking into account the defi nition of time perspective of Kurt Lewin (1951), we believe that a negative future dimension is an important component of the individual’s time perspective. The objective of this study is to verify a 7-dimension model of Time Perspective formed by the 5 original dimensions of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory – ZTPI (Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999), the Transcendental- Future from Transcendental-Future Time Perspective Scale – TFTPS (Boyd & Zimbardo, 1997) and the Negative Future Scale from Inventário de Perspectiva Temporal – IPT (Janeiro, 2012) in a sample of 563 Portuguese college students. Through Exploratory Factor Analysis we found evidence that supports this model. The majority of items load above .30 in their respective factors, the internal consistency of the 7 dimensions ranges from .722 to .865 and the total variance explained is 46.18%.