Delay discounting is the reduction in the perceived immediate value of a reward when its receipt is delayed. This study examines the inhibitory effects of episodic future thinking on delay discounting in children in conflict with the law. A total of 62 children admitted to a youth detention center were divided into two groups: an episodic future thinking group and a control group. The results indicated that episodic future thinking was effective in decreasing delay discounting in children in conflict with the law. The potential influence of age, intelligence, and previous drug use on delay discounting reduction was also examined, but no significant associations were found. These findings suggest that engaging children in conflict with the law in episodic future thinking may enhance their future orientation and improve their self-control.
Katagiri et al. (Thu,) studied this question.