The Influence of Episodic Future Thinking and Graphic Warning Labels on Delay Discounting and Cigarette Demand

Bibliographic Data

ID15469607
AuthorsGideon P Naudé (0000-0001-9772-9313, Johns Hopkins University, corresponding author), Sean B Dolan (0000-0003-1828-9589, Johns Hopkins University), Justin C Strickland (0000-0003-1077-0394, Johns Hopkins University), Meredith S Berry (0000-0002-5526-7437, Johns Hopkins University), David J Cox (0000-0003-4376-2104, Johns Hopkins University), Matthew W Johnson (0000-0002-3741-6312, Johns Hopkins University)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue23
Pages12637-12637
Publication date2021-11-30
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph182312637
PMID34886370
OpenAlexW3216586807
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited50

Delay discounting and operant demand are two behavioral economic constructs that tend to covary, by degree, with cigarette smoking status. Given historically robust associations between adverse health outcomes of smoking, a strong preference for immediate reinforcement (measured with delay discounting), and excessive motivation to smoke cigarettes (measured with operant demand), researchers have made numerous attempts to attenuate the extent to which behaviors corresponding to these constructs acutely appear in smokers. One approach is episodic future thinking, which can reportedly increase the impact of future events on present decision making as well as reduce the reinforcing value of cigarettes. Graphic cigarette pack warning labels may also reduce smoking by increased future orientation. Experiment 1 evaluated the combined effects of episodic future thinking and graphic warning labels on delay discounting; Experiment 2 evaluated solely the effects of episodic future thinking on delay discounting and operant demand. We observed no statistically significant effects of episodic future thinking when combined with graphic warning labels or when assessed on its own. These results serve as a call for further research on the boundary conditions of experimental techniques reported to alter behaviors associated with cigarette smoking

Behavioral economics · Cognitive psychology · Delay discounting · Discounting · Econometrics · Economics · Impulsivity · Intertemporal choice · Microeconomics · Preference · Temporal discounting · Time preference · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Clinical Psychology · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics · Mental Health Research Topics · Psychology · Social Psychology

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