A new study has revealed that perceiving the "concept of time" can help in predicting the impulsive behaviour of individuals.
Obesity, gambling, substance abuse and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are just some disorders that have been linked to impulsive behavior, but the factors contributing to that impulsivity are still a mystery.
Kimberly Kirkpatrick, professor of psychological sciences, said that individuals with greater self-control have a better understanding of delays, which means that they could wait for a longer period of time to earn a larger reward.
He further explained that they consider decision-making a malleable trait and believe it could be improved through intensive training; in fact, improving the concept of time could help those vulnerable to impulsive behaviors.
The researchers determined delay tolerance through progressive intervals.
The study is published in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.