Implications

This study aimed to explore whether a future self-dialogue exercise in VR or EC can increase FSCon, FSViv, and FSVal and whether one intervention worked better than the other and why. Findings revealed that both interventions do not significantly increase FSCon, FSViv, and FSVal, which is why it cannot be reliably stated that the manipulation worked. It is relevant to note, however, that despite this non-significance there was a tendency observed that in VR the increase was the greatest in all future self measures and in both experiments it was greater than in the control. Instead of discarding the idea that both interventions could have any practical value due to the non-significant effects, this trend effect suggests that they might have potential. Especially with regard to an almost significant difference observed between VR and the control condition in the increase in FSVal. Researchers can build on this knowledge and focus on improving the research design by adding more cues and embellishment that will further increase the embodiment illusion of a future self in VR, and investigate whether this as well as increasing the sample size changes the intervention’s outcome. Furthermore, as results indicated that the embodiment of the future self did not

significantly predict the increase in the future self measures, it directs future research to look into other factors that could possibly have influenced the tendency observed, such as the ability for imagination.

Concluding, this study directs future research in that it gave important insights into whether a future self-dialogue exercise in EC and VR can be used in order to increase FSCon, FSViv, and FSVal. Although there was no support found, in terms of significance, the results were pointing into the intended direction. A future self-dialogue exercise in EC and VR tended to increase FSCon, FSViv, and FSVal more compared to the absence of such exercise, and the greatest increase was observed in VR. Knowing this gives hope that there is potential for improvement. Not every intervention works for every person, but the trend effect revealed that it did work for some while not for others. Hence, although the added value of VR is not yet entirely clear, this research can serve as a guide on where to improve future interventions aimed at increasing connectedness to a future self and therefore to foster long-term oriented thinking and behavior among individuals.

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Appendix A

Four Tutorial Questions and Nine Experiment Questions Used in the Future Self Dialogue Exercise in the EC and VR Condition

Tutorial Experiment

Future self, what did you have for breakfast?

Future self, do you eat that everyday?

Future self, where are you going on vacation this year?

Future self, how much will this vacation cost?

Future self, how are you feeling today?

Future self, what are you celebrating? Who is coming? What are you guys going to do?

What does it feel like to finally achieve this?

Future self, what did you do or change in the last years that helped you achieve this?

What were some difficult experiences you overcame and how did you deal with them?

What one lesson did you learn from these experiences?

Future self, what advice would you give me to start working towards this goal?

Future self, what are the best parts about being you?

Think of a question you would like to ask your future self and ask it. Start the question with: Future self…

Appendix B

Correlation Matrix for the Items of the Embodiment of the Future Self Scale, FSCon Scale,

and FSViv Scale

Item

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8

When sitting in the chair of my future self, I felt as if I was my future self. (Q1)

1 .54 .29 .24

When sitting in the chair of my future self, my thoughts changed from how I

normally think. (Q2)

.54 1 .31 .15

When sitting in the chair of my future self, I felt as if I was someone else. (Q3)a

.29 .31 1 .12

I felt as if someone was sitting across from me. (Q4)a

.24 .15 .12 1

How connected do you feel to yourself 10 years into the future? (Q5)

1 .28

How similar do you feel to yourself 10 years into the future? (Q6)a

.28 1

I find it easy to imagine myself 10 years from now. (Q7)

1 .79

I find it easy to describe myself 10 years from now. (Q8)

.79 1