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Pleasure now, pain later: Positive fantasies about the future predict symptoms of depression

Gabriele Oettingen, Doris Mayer, Sam Portnow · 2016 · Psychological Science, 27(3), 345-353

Spiritual Evidence Map/Last updated May 10, 2026/Claims v1.0.0-provisional/Sources v1.0.0/Scores provisional

Summary

Four-study paper reporting that positive fantasies about the future predicted later depressive symptoms, partly through lower effort and achievement.

Why it matters here

Useful counterweight to manifestation claims: visualization can affect motivation, but fantasy by itself can reduce effort rather than magically produce outcomes.

Linked claims

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