In psychology and related fields, future orientation is broadly defined as the extent to which an individual thinks about the future, anticipates future consequences, and plans ahead before acting.[1] Across development, future orientation is particularly important during periods of major changes, for example during the transition from adolescence to adulthood, when youth must make choices about social groups, academic paths, as well as risky behaviors like drug and alcohol use, and sexual activity.[2] Several models have been developed to describe the various factors that combine to impact future orientation.[3][4][5][6]
^Steinberg, Laurence; Graham, Sandra; o'Brien, Lia; Woolard, Jennifer; Cauffman, Elizabeth; Banich, Marie (2009). "Age Differences in Future Orientation and Delay Discounting". Child Development. 80 (1): 28–44. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01244.x. PMID19236391.
^McCabe, Kristen; Barnett, Douglas (2000). "First Comes Work, then Comes Marriage: Future Orientation Among African American Young Adolescents". Family Relations. 49 (1): 63–70. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2000.00063.x. JSTOR585702.
^Nurmi, Jari-Erik (1989). "Development of Orientation to the Future during Early Adolescence: A Four-Year Longitudinal Study and Two Cross-Sectional Comparisons". International Journal of Psychology. 24 (1–5): 195–214. doi:10.1080/00207594.1989.10600042. PMID23336772.
^Nurmi, J (1991). "How do adolescents see their future? A review of the development of future orientation and planning". Developmental Review. 11 (1): 1–59. doi:10.1016/0273-2297(91)90002-6. INIST19784309.
^Seginer, Rachel (2009). Future orientation: Developmental and ecological perspectives. New York: Springer. ISBN978-0-387-88640-4.[page needed]