ABSTRACT
This chapter examines hyperopia, a research paradigm that challenges the universality of myopia and demonstrates that people often suffer from a reverse self-control problem characterized by excessive psychological farsightedness and over-control. It presents hyperopia as a general theory of reverse self-control and discusses empirical evidence for excessive farsightedness, its underlying processes, and its consequences for human decision-making, behavior, and wellbeing. The chapter describes how people cope with their hyperopic preferences and tendencies. The existence of hyperopia is not only demonstrated through people’s over-control but is also implied by the counteractions they take to remedy their excessive farsightedness. Hyperopia and the accompanying need to precommit to indulgence arise in large part from the inherent disadvantage of hedonic luxuries or relative vices compared to utilitarian necessities or relative virtues. Hyperopia is likely to be especially acute when people vividly remember, experience, or anticipate the guilt emanating from their choice or consumption of indulgences.
