Foresight is the ability to predict, or the action of predicting, what will happen or what is needed in the future. Studies suggest that much of human thought is directed towards potential future events. Because of this, the nature and evolution of foresight is an important topic in psychology. Thinking about the future is studied under the label prospection.
Neuroscientific, developmental, and cognitive studies have identified many similarities to the human ability to recall past episodes.Science magazine selected evidence for such similarities as one of the top ten scientific breakthroughs of 2007. However, fundamental differences separate mentally travelling through time into the future (i.e., foresight) versus mentally travelling through time into the past (i.e., episodic memory).
Uses
Foresight has been classified as a behaviour (covert and/or overt) in management. Review, analysis, and synthesis of past definitions and usages of the foresight concept attempted to establish a generic definition, in order to make the concept measurable.
Specifically, foresight has been defined as: "Degree of analyzing present contingencies and degree of moving the analysis of present contingencies across time, and degree of analyzing a desired future state or states a degree ahead in time with regard to contingencies under control, as well as degree of analyzing courses of action a degree ahead in time to arrive at the desired future state."
Prediction markets
Prediction markets are exchange-traded markets created for the purpose of trading on the possible outcomes of events. This information-revealing mechanism is credited to economists Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek. Prediction markets allow people to aggregate information and make predictions.
See also
- Future-oriented therapy – form of psychotherapy
- Future orientation – the extent to which an individual thinks about the future, anticipates future consequences, and plans ahead before acting
- Future self – Research that examines the processes of thinking of oneself in the future
- Futures techniques – Futures studies lessons learned methods
- Goal orientation – Social-cognitive motivational disposition
- Goal setting – Development of an action plan in order to achieve a goal
- Prospection – Generation and evaluation of mental representations of possible futures
- Retrocognition – Concept in parapsychology
- Vision (spirituality) – Something seen in a dream, trance, or religious ecstasy
References
- Suddendorf T, Corballis M (2007). "The evolution of foresight: What is mental time travel and is it uniquely human?". Behavioral and Brain Sciences. 30 (3): 299–313. doi:10.1017/S0140525X07001975. PMID 17963565.
- Suddendorf T, Bulley A, Miloyan B (December 2018). "Prospection and natural selection". Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences. 24: 26–31. doi:10.1016/j.cobeha.2018.01.019. S2CID 53180176.
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- Addis DR, Wong AT, Schacter DL (2007). "Remembering the Past and Imagining the Future: Common and Distinct Neural Substrates During Event Construction and Elaboration". Neuropsychologia. 45 (7): 1363–1377. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2006.10.016. PMC 1894691. PMID 17126370.
- Hassabis D, Kumaran D, Vann SD, Maguire EA (2007). "Patients with Hippocampal Amnesia Cannot Imagine New Experiences". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 104 (5): 1726–1731. Bibcode:2007PNAS..104.1726H. doi:10.1073/pnas.0610561104. PMC 1773058. PMID 17229836.
- News Staff, T. (21 December 2007). "Breakthrough of the Year: The Runners-Up". Science. 318 (5848): 1844–1849. doi:10.1126/science.318.5858.1844a. PMID 18096772.
- Suddendorf T (2010). "Episodic Memory Versus Episodic Foresight: Similarities and Differences". Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science. 1: 99–107. doi:10.1002/wcs.23.
- Amsteus M (2008). "Managerial foresight: concept and measurement". Foresight: The Journal for Future Studies, Strategic Thinking and Policy. 10 (1): 53–66.
Foresight is the ability to predict or the action of predicting what will happen or what is needed in the future Studies suggest that much of human thought is directed towards potential future events Because of this the nature and evolution of foresight is an important topic in psychology Thinking about the future is studied under the label prospection Neuroscientific developmental and cognitive studies have identified many similarities to the human ability to recall past episodes Science magazine selected evidence for such similarities as one of the top ten scientific breakthroughs of 2007 However fundamental differences separate mentally travelling through time into the future i e foresight versus mentally travelling through time into the past i e episodic memory UsesForesight has been classified as a behaviour covert and or overt in management Review analysis and synthesis of past definitions and usages of the foresight concept attempted to establish a generic definition in order to make the concept measurable Specifically foresight has been defined as Degree of analyzing present contingencies and degree of moving the analysis of present contingencies across time and degree of analyzing a desired future state or states a degree ahead in time with regard to contingencies under control as well as degree of analyzing courses of action a degree ahead in time to arrive at the desired future state Prediction marketsPrediction markets are exchange traded markets created for the purpose of trading on the possible outcomes of events This information revealing mechanism is credited to economists Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek Prediction markets allow people to aggregate information and make predictions See alsoPsychology portalFuture oriented therapy form of psychotherapyPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback Future orientation the extent to which an individual thinks about the future anticipates future consequences and plans ahead before actingPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback Future self Research that examines the processes of thinking of oneself in the future Futures techniques Futures studies lessons learned methods Goal orientation Social cognitive motivational disposition Goal setting Development of an action plan in order to achieve a goal Prospection Generation and evaluation of mental representations of possible futures Retrocognition Concept in parapsychology Vision spirituality Something seen in a dream trance or religious ecstasyReferencesSuddendorf T Corballis M 2007 The evolution of foresight What is mental time travel and is it uniquely human Behavioral and Brain Sciences 30 3 299 313 doi 10 1017 S0140525X07001975 PMID 17963565 Suddendorf T Bulley A Miloyan B December 2018 Prospection and natural selection Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences 24 26 31 doi 10 1016 j cobeha 2018 01 019 S2CID 53180176 Addis DR Wong AT Schacter DL 2007 Remembering the Past and Imagining the Future Common and Distinct Neural Substrates During Event Construction and Elaboration Neuropsychologia 45 7 1363 1377 doi 10 1016 j neuropsychologia 2006 10 016 PMC 1894691 PMID 17126370 Hassabis D Kumaran D Vann SD Maguire EA 2007 Patients with Hippocampal Amnesia Cannot Imagine New Experiences Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 104 5 1726 1731 Bibcode 2007PNAS 104 1726H doi 10 1073 pnas 0610561104 PMC 1773058 PMID 17229836 News Staff T 21 December 2007 Breakthrough of the Year The Runners Up Science 318 5848 1844 1849 doi 10 1126 science 318 5858 1844a PMID 18096772 Suddendorf T 2010 Episodic Memory Versus Episodic Foresight Similarities and Differences Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Cognitive Science 1 99 107 doi 10 1002 wcs 23 Amsteus M 2008 Managerial foresight concept and measurement Foresight The Journal for Future Studies Strategic Thinking and Policy 10 1 53 66
