Individual futures consciousness: Psychology behind the five-dimensional Futures Consciousness scale

Future consciousness refers to the human capacity to understand, anticipate, prepare for, and embrace the future. The Futures Consciousness Scale has recently been developed to enable empirical study of the phenomenon among individuals. The scale is based on a five-dimensional model of Futures Consciousness (FC) that encompasses: i) Time Perspective, ii) Agency Beliefs, iii) Openness to Alternatives, iv) Systems Perception, and v) Concern for Others. The present article reviews the psychological theories, concepts and constructs that underlie the FC Scale in depth. It examines how the five dimensions could be manifested in individual behaviour, how they relate to each other and to other psychological phenomena. Furthermore, the article provides ideas and sources for researchers and practitioners interested in the concept of FC or in using the FC Scale in research or in educational settings.