Episodic future thinking reduces delay discounting and cigarette demand: an investigation of the good-subject effect
Abstract
Episodic future thinking (EFT), an intervention involving mental simulation of future events, has been shown to reduce both delay discounting and cigarette self-administration. In the present study, we extended these findings by showing that EFT in a web-based sample of smokers reduces delay discounting and intensity of demand for cigarettes (ad libitum consumption) in a hypothetical purchase task. No effect was observed on elasticity of demand (sensitivity to price) or cigarette craving. We also explored whether demand characteristics (specifically, the "good-subject" effect) might be responsible for observed effects. EFT participants were significantly better able than control participants to discern the experimental hypothesis. However, EFT participants were not better than controls at identifying whether they had been assigned to the experimental group and, likewise, showed no differences in attitudes about the experiment and experimenter. Importantly, effects of EFT on delay discounting and demand remained significant even when controlling for measures of demand characteristics, indicating that EFT's effects are independent of participants' perceptions about the experiment.
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Two later studies do not support the demand-characteristics explanation of episodic future thinking effects.
“Two subsequent studies, however, do not support this demand-characteristics hypothesis (Rung & Madden, 2019; Stein et al., 2018).”
From Changing Delay Discounting and Impulsive Choice: Implications for Addictions, Prevention, and Human Health (2019) · cites this paper as Stein et al., 2018
Episodic future thinking produces laboratory reductions in cigarette smoking, both hypothetical and real.
“Evidence that EFT can also positively impact health decision-making is provided by laboratory reductions in cigarette smoking (hypothetical and real; Stein, Tegge, Turner, & Bickel, 2018; Stein et al., 2016)”
From Changing Delay Discounting and Impulsive Choice: Implications for Addictions, Prevention, and Human Health (2019) · cites this paper as Stein et al., 2018
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- Authors
- Stein, J. S., Tegge, A. N., Turner, J. K., & Bickel, W. K.
- Affiliations
- Carilion Clinic (US)
- Virginia Tech (US)
- Corresponding author
- Stein, Jeffrey S.
- Venue
- Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Published
- 2017-12-21
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 269-276
- ISSN
- 0160-7715 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3521
- OpenAlex
- W2781409553
- Cited by
- 159
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 10
- FWCI
- 12.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Behavioral Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (5R01DA034755)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Keywords
- episodic future thinking, delay discounting, cigarette demand, smoking, demand characteristics, mental simulation, cigarette craving, price elasticity, online intervention
- MeSH terms
- Cigarette Smoking, Smokers, Adult, Female, Forecasting, Humans, Male, Self Concept, Thinking, Tobacco Products, Delay Discounting, Craving
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