I originally wrote about time perspective way back in 2004, but given the volatility and uncertainty that seems to a feature of 2012 it is perhaps worth revisiting.

The concept, developed by Philip Zimbardo at Stamford University, essentially says that we all need a balance between the past, the present and the future. Too little (or too much) of any one type of thinking and we fall prey to conditions like depression. To illustrate the theory Zimbardo has developed five new personality types: Past- Negative, Past-Positive, Present-Hedonistic, Present-Fatalistic and Future-Perspective.