Psychological time: A hidden dimension of our mind 2500-PL-PS-FO4-12

In the course we will outline major concepts in the field of psychology of time, starting from philosophical considerations about time, formulated by prominent thinkers over the centuries (e.g. Augustine of Hippo), through seminal psychological concepts in this area (William James, Kurt Lewin, Joseph Nuttin), to contemporary psychological scientific approaches. We will discuss the cognitive mechanisms underlying the experience of temporality, including episodic memory, future simulations, which both provide bases for the ability of mental time travel – a capacity that many primatologists highlight as the "last bastion" that distinguishes homo sapiens from other species. Major research findings on temporality (including the classic Walter Mischel experiments on delayed gratification, Myerson and Green's research on delay discounting, and psychological theories that view psychological time as a fundamental dimension of the psyche, including the Zimbardo and Boyd’s time perspective theory, socioemotional selectivity theory by Laura Carstensen, Alan Strathman’s consideration of future consequences, or the possible selves theory coined by Hazel Markus. We will also take a close look at more elementary phenomena, such as time perception or the role of mental speed and reaction time in the development of intelligence. We will also look for manifestations of temporality in major theories of temperament and personality. Time issues will be also discussed in the clinical and subclinical context, including, e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, or procrastination. We will also analyze temporal constructs that provided foundations for positive psychology, such as mindfulness (mindfulness), savoring the moment (savoring the moment), prioritizing positivity, or gratitude. We will pay attention to cultural differences in the experience of time and time perception, and they role for the functioning of societies will also look at potential applications of temporal theories in psychological practice: psychotherapy, supporting personality development, psychodietetics, or the psychology of sports. Research methods used in the domain of temporal psychology will also be introduced.