This chapter explores the temporal context of social change, including how scholars have studied changes over time through longitudinal research. It highlights the importance of understanding how the past, present and future interact to shape the attitudes and behaviours of individuals and groups. The chapter reviews key topics such as salience, threat, collective memories and narratives, emphasising their roles in the psychology of groups that act across time and space. Cyclical temporal changes are proposed to be understudied, and the need for comparative, predictive models to better understand recurring rhythms is discussed. The chapter discusses how experiences of the present are influenced by past histories and future anticipations, and the impact of social context on identity salience and intergroup relations. Lastly, the chapter explores how collective futures, including utopias and dystopias, influence motivation and action, exploring the balance of threat and hope in relation to effective collective action.