Perception of time among college students and residents of a metropolitan community

A sample of college undergraduates and a sample of residents in the city in which the college is located were asked to draw 3 circles representing the past, present, and future. Among the college students, 52% indicated future dominance by drawing the future circle largest, while only 44% of the residents of the city did so. Relatedness was indicated by 54% of the students who drew circles that were touching, overlapping, or concentric, while only 11% of the city residents did so. Of the metropolitan sample, 14% did not respond to the test at all, but all of the college students did.