Future Consequences Test (CFC-14)

The Consideration of Future Consequences Scale, CFC-14 (CFC-14) was developed by psychologists Jeff Joireman, M. J. Shaffer, Daniel Balliet, and Alan Strathman in 2012. Building on earlier psychological models of temporal orientation, the authors designed the CFC-14 to measure individual differences in how people navigate the tension between short-term desires and long-term objectives. While earlier frameworks often treated time perspective as a single continuous line running from impulsive to foresighted, the CFC-14 established that consideration of immediate consequences and consideration of future consequences are two distinct, independent dimensions that can coexist within the same person.

The Future Consequences facet assesses your tendency to look ahead, anticipate distant outcomes, and align your daily behavior with long-range aspirations. Individuals who score high on this subscale are often willing to sacrifice immediate comfort, convenience, or pleasure if doing so serves meaningful goals that may not materialize for months, years, or decades. In daily life, a strong future orientation manifests in disciplined financial saving, persistent academic effort, consistent health habits, and proactive career planning. These individuals frequently visualize future scenarios and use those mental representations to guide their immediate actions.

The Immediate Consequences facet captures your focus on present needs, immediate gratification, and short-term convenience. High scorers on this dimension are primarily motivated by the immediate outcomes of their actions, often preferring tangible, near-term rewards over abstract future possibilities. In everyday contexts, a strong immediate orientation may lead someone to prioritize current enjoyment, spontaneity, or immediate problem-solving, sometimes under the assumption that future challenges can be handled when they arrive. While high immediate focus can foster adaptability and present-moment enjoyment, it can also lead to procrastination or impulsive decision-making.

Decades of empirical research demonstrate that your balance across these two dimensions influences a wide array of life outcomes. Studies show that individuals with a pronounced future orientation tend to achieve greater academic and professional success, maintain better physical health, engage in pro-environmental behaviors, and accumulate more long-term wealth. Conversely, a high immediate orientation without a counterbalancing future focus is associated with higher credit card debt, substance misuse, and reactive stress responses. However, researchers emphasize that both orientations have functional value: the ability to enjoy the present and respond to immediate demands is just as vital for well-being as planning for retirement.

Your results profile illustrates where you stand on both the immediate and future dimensions, highlighting your unique cognitive pattern when facing choices that carry consequences over time. The population comparison markers shown on your results chart are estimated from published academic samples and serve as general benchmarks rather than standardized percentiles or absolute diagnostic norms. Understanding your natural tendencies can help you identify areas where your decision-making serves your long-term well-being, as well as situations where you might benefit from consciously adjusting your temporal focus.

This test is provided for educational and self-reflection purposes and does not constitute a clinical assessment or psychological diagnosis. It is based on the Consideration of Future Consequences Scale (CFC-14) and related scientific literature, but it is not affiliated with the original authors or their respective research institutions. Your personalized scores are intended to offer helpful personal insights into your everyday decision-making style.

References

• Joireman, J., Shaffer, M. J., Balliet, D., & Strathman, A. (2012). Promotion Orientation Explains Why Future-Oriented People Exercise and Eat Healthy: Evidence From the Two-Factor Consideration of Future Consequences-14 Scale. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38(10), 1272-1287.