Delay discounting is a frame of mind that causes an individual to value smaller, immediate rewards more than greater long-term rewards because of how long it takes for the later rewards to be enjoyed. This impulsiveness can determine one's future success, or lack of it. (1) It can manifest in different ways, and affect a person's life through the habits he/she forms with this mentality. Delayed discounting not only bars individuals from having a successful future, but has also prevented society from reaching its potential. This internal conflict has become a pervasive affliction of the minds that make up our nation that kills motivation and compromises free will. By implementing strategies to create an awareness of and the ability to overcome
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If a person develops a personal reason to achieve something and finds enjoyment doing it, the long term goal seems much more achievable and desirable. Therefore, integrating something the individual finds inherently enjoyable into the time put toward the long term goal can help to make that goal a success. For example, consider someone who exercises to pursue a long-term health goal, and while she runs, listens to music to improve her experience. Although this person does not find running inherently enjoyable, and is therefore not intrinsically motivated to run, she at the same time does receive an immediate reward: the positive experience of listening to music. In this example, the runner who listens to music while exercising experiences an overlap in the psychological experience of intrinsic and immediate rewards and the effort put in to achieve a long term goal. (2) This method of combating delayed discounting can be implemented on a large scale to improve society as a whole. In order to promote the growth and development of children in our society, a longer paid leave of absence could be provided by the government to both parents. Parents would be intrinsically motivated because they can both enjoy the early years with their child more without the stress of work. By providing families the luxury of staying at home with their child, the stress of work is not a factor and child is more likely to me successful later in life.
If a person develops a personal reason to achieve something and finds enjoyment doing it, the long term goal seems much more achievable and desirable. Therefore, integrating something the individual finds inherently enjoyable into the time put toward the long term goal can help to make that goal a success. For example, consider someone who exercises to pursue a long-term health goal, and while she runs, listens to music to improve her experience. Although this person does not find running inherently enjoyable, and is therefore not intrinsically motivated to run, she at the same time does receive an immediate reward: the positive experience of listening to music. In this example, the runner who listens to music while exercising experiences an overlap in the psychological experience of intrinsic and immediate rewards and the effort put in to achieve a long term goal. (2) This method of combating delayed discounting can be implemented on a large scale to improve society as a whole. In order to promote the growth and development of children in our society, a longer paid leave of absence could be provided by the government to both parents. Parents would be intrinsically motivated because they can both enjoy the early years with their child more without the stress of work. By providing families the luxury of staying at home with their child, the stress of work is not a factor and child is more likely to me successful later in life.