Mapping of Meaning and Pleasure on the Temporal Horizon: Long-Term Orientation Predicts Preference for Meaningful Over Pleasurable Activities

Abstract

Meaning and pleasure, albeit closely tied, are often distinguished in their temporality. The present research aims to deepen the understanding of temporality of meaning and pleasure by examining whether long-term orientation (LTO) positively predicts the preference for meaning-oriented behaviours but negatively predicts the preference for pleasure-oriented behaviours. Four studies (N = 1251) revealed supporting evidence for meaning but less consistent pattern for pleasure. Study 1 demonstrated that LTO was more consistently associated with the preference for meaningful activities (e.g., helping someone) than pleasurable activities (e.g., watching TV). Studies 2–3B further revealed that experimentally induced LTO increased the preference for meaningful activities while attenuating the preference for clearly pleasurable activities (e.g., getting drunk) only, indirectly through the LTO cultural values—tradition and planning. Our findings advance the understanding of how the pursuit of meaning and pleasure is mapped onto a wider scale of temporal orientation.