This article presents a literature review about future goals of young people, aiming to identify the main theoretical orientations in which are based the studies conducted and to discuss them under the Evolutionary Psychology perspective. Three central theoretical orientations were identified: (a) studies based on the Future Time Perspective Theory, (b) studies based on the Self Determination Theory, and (c) other studies dedicated to the cognitive and neural processes associated with the development of goals for the future. Based on Future Discounting and Life History Theory proposed by Evolutionary Psychology, we propose a different framework for the study of this topic, including socio-demographic, economics and specific contextual variables.
future goals; youth; future perspective; literature review; evolutionary psychology
