Future-Directed Thinking and Emotional Disorder

Alterations to autobiographical future-directed thinking are closely related to emotional disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Some of these alterations parallel those found in autobiographical memory, but the inherent uncertainty built into the future means that the degree of belief is pivotal to future-directed thinking. Understanding the basis of belief therefore becomes important in understanding future-directed thinking. I argue that belief in future outcomes is located in verbally based causal reasoning rather than in simply the ability to imagine outcomes in a vivid, specific way. The second consequence of the inherent uncertainty in contemplating the future, as opposed to remembering the past, is the greater preponderance of generic, rather than episodic, thinking, as can be seen in many of the goals that people hold. Understanding more about this autobiographically important generic thinking should also help in understanding future-directed thinking and its disruptions in those who are experiencing emotional distress.