Forethoughts

Forethoughts is a term used to describe the set of anticipatory thoughts and mental simulations that occur before taking action. It encompasses goal setting, scenario imagining, risk assessment, and planning steps. The term is not widely standardized and appears mainly in theoretical discussions or as a colloquial label for the stream of future-oriented cognition that guides behavior.

In psychology, forethought (singular) is recognized as the preparatory phase of self-regulation, during which individuals form goals, consider expected outcomes, and plan strategies. Some writers colloquially refer to "forethoughts" as the ongoing collection of anticipatory thoughts that influence decisions, motivation, and effort. This anticipatory process can be affected by experience, feedback, self-efficacy, and perceived contingencies.

Across domains, forethoughts have been invoked in education to describe the planning thoughts students use before tackling tasks, in organizational contexts as a factor in strategic thinking, and in artificial intelligence to illustrate planning and prediction components of reasoning. In literature and popular culture, the term may appear as a metaphor for foresight or as a title for works focusing on future-oriented reflection.

Usage notes: Forethoughts is not a formal technical term with a single canonical definition. It is best understood as a flexible label for future-oriented cognition that precedes action.

See also: forethought, prospection, self-regulation, planning.