More Interpersonal Difficulties, More Preferences for Immediate Gratification? Investigating the Effect of Social Pain With the Frame Effect on Impulsive Choice

In recent years, researchers have increasingly focused on the impact of pain on impulsive choice. Some studies suggested that pain leads to shortsightedness, while others found no effect of pain conditions on impulsive choice. Based on the dual system theory of decision-making, this study proposed that moderate levels of social pain might prompt individuals to adopt forward-looking and predictive responses, think more rationally and process relevant information about future rewards through an analytical system to make long-term decisions. Additionally, this study included a framework variable to investigate whether the perception of monetary gain in a gain scenario and loss aversion in a loss scenario could regulate the influence of social pain on impulsive choice. This study found that moderate levels of social pain led to a long-term view, which provided implications for human survival and evolution. Drawing upon the influence of social pain intensity and different frameworks, this study investigated the impact of social pain on impulsive choice, thereby contributing to advancements in pain research.