Abstract
Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have higher temporal discounting rates (i.e., an increased propensity to prefer immediate over delayed rewards) than healthy controls. However, it is unknown if BPD features are associated with temporal discounting in a general population and, if so, which of those traits is most predictive of discounting. As part of a larger online study, 342 participants completed a BPD screening questionnaire, a rejection sensitivity questionnaire, and a temporal discounting task, in which they made choices between smaller, immediate and larger, delayed monetary rewards. BPD summary scores and temporal discounting were positively correlated. Among the nine diagnostic BPD features, only identity instability was associated with higher temporal discounting. In addition, higher expectations of rejection, but not anxiety about rejection, were associated with higher discounting. Thus, people with BPD features may discount delayed rewards due to their fragmented sense of self, coupled with negative future expectations.