Consumer responses to time pressure: a qualitative study with homeowners in foreclosure

Consumer responses to time pressure are examined in the context of mortgage foreclosure. The study presents the results of depth interviews with homeowners in foreclosure, yielding descriptive data relevant to both behavioral and affective responses. Themes relate to the experience of foreclosure time pressure, responses that exacerbate time pressure, and decision making under time pressure. A classification of responses is presented, with responses suggested to be contingent upon the degree or intensity of both objective time pressure (clock/calendar time) and subjective time pressure (perceived urgency). In general, a curvilinear relationship between time pressure and productivity is inferred.