Genetic Relations Among Procrastination, Impulsivity, and Goal-Management Ability: Implications for the Evolutionary Origin of Procrastination
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Previous research has revealed a moderate and positive correlation between procrastination and impulsivity. However, little is known about why these two constructs are related. In the present study, we used behavior-genetics methodology to test three predictions derived from an evolutionary account that postulates that procrastination arose as a by-product of impulsivity: (a) Procrastination is heritable, (b) the two traits share considerable genetic variation, and (c) goal-management ability is an important component of this shared variation. These predictions were confirmed. First, both procrastination and impulsivity were moderately heritable (46% and 49%, respectively). Second, although the two traits were separable at the phenotypic level ( r = .65), they were not separable at the genetic level ( r genetic = 1.0). Finally, variation in goal-management ability accounted for much of this shared genetic variation. These results suggest that procrastination and impulsivity are linked primarily through genetic influences on the ability to use high-priority goals to effectively regulate actions.
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In their behavioural genetics analysis, Gustavson and colleagues found that there was little shared variation between procrastination and impulsivity at the phenotypic and genotypic levels that was due to perfectionistic concerns, and concluded that perfectionism did not account for the procrastination-impulsivity relationship.
“in their behavioural genetics analysis of procrastination and impulsivity, Gustavson and colleagues (2014) found that there was little shared variation between procrastination and impulsivity at the phenotypic and gentotypic levels that was due to perfectionistic concerns (as measured by the concerns over mistakes and the parental criticisms subscales of the FMPS; (Frost et al., 1990), and concl”
From A Meta–Analytic and Conceptual Update on the Associations between Procrastination and Multidimensional Perfectionism (2017) · cites this paper as Gustavson et al., 2014
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Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAs a trait, procrastination involves some degree of impulsiveness, but the needless delay of intended actions that defines the expressed trait of procrastination cannot be wholly attributed to impulsivity.
“This evidence indicates that, as a trait, procrastination involves some degree of impulsiveness, but that the needless delay of intended actions that defines the expressed trait of procrastination cannot be wholly attributed to impulsivity.”
From A Meta–Analytic and Conceptual Update on the Associations between Procrastination and Multidimensional Perfectionism (2017) · cites this paper as Gustavson et al., 2014
In behaviour genetics research with over 300 same-sex twin pairs, procrastination and impulsivity were indistinguishable at the genetic level, suggesting a shared evolutionary development of the two traits.
“Indeed, in behaviour genetics research with over 300 same-sex twin pairs, procrastination and impulsivity were indistinguishable at the genetic level, suggesting a shared evolutionary development of the two traits (Gustavson et al., 2014).”
From A Meta–Analytic and Conceptual Update on the Associations between Procrastination and Multidimensional Perfectionism (2017) · cites this paper as Gustavson et al., 2014
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- Authors
- Gustavson, D. E., Miyake, A., Hewitt, J. K., & Friedman, N. P.
- Affiliations
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
- University of Colorado Boulder (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gustavson, Daniel E.
- Venue
- Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2014-04-04
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1178-1188
- ISSN
- 0956-7976 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-9280
- PMC
- PMC4185275
- OpenAlex
- W2113981509
- Cited by
- 198
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 6
- FWCI
- 14.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH063207, MH063207, R56MH063207, T32MH016880)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA 011015, P60DA011015)
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD010333, R01HD010333)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation
- Keywords
- procrastination, impulsivity, heritability, action regulation, behavioral genetics
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cognition, Female, Goals, Humans, Impulsive Behavior, Individuality, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Models, Genetic, Motivation, Phenotype, Surveys and Questionnaires, Twins, Multivariate Analysis, Young Adult
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