Why Procrastinate: An Investigation of the Root Causes behind Procrastination

Abstract

This paper examines di ff erent theories on the reasons why students procras ti nate on their academic assignments. Although the fear of failure, self ‐ regulatory failures and low self ‐ e ffi cacy have been linked to procras ti na ti on among students, recent research suggests these theories aren't complete because they don't account for task aversiveness or the hyperbolic discoun ti ng of ti me. The Temporal Mo ti va ti on Theory is the most valid theory of procras ti na ti on today because it incorporates the self ‐ regulatory and self ‐ e ffi cacy theories and accounts for task aversiveness and the hyperbolic discoun ti ng of ti me. By understanding the root causes behind procras ti na ti on, e ff ec ti ve solu ti ons can be invented, researched and spread to stem the ti de of procras ti na ti on among students and in society.