Routine and the Perception of Time

The authors investigated the influence of routine on people's estimation of time, testing the hypothesis that duration is remembered as being shorter when time is spent in a routine activity. In 4 experiments and 2 field studies, the authors compared time estimations in routine and nonroutine c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of experimental psychology. General 2003-12, Vol.132 (4), p.543-550
Main Authors: Avni-Babad, Dinah, Ritov, Ilana
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Cognition. Intelligence
Daily Activities
Experiments
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Humans
Judgment
Learning. Memory
Male
Memory
Perceptions
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Spatial perception. Time perception
Time
Time Estimation
Time Perception
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Summary:The authors investigated the influence of routine on people's estimation of time, testing the hypothesis that duration is remembered as being shorter when time is spent in a routine activity. In 4 experiments and 2 field studies, the authors compared time estimations in routine and nonroutine conditions. Routine was established by a sequence of markers (Study 1), variation of the task (Studies 2 and 3), or the number of repetitive blocks (Study 4). As hypothesized, the duration of the task was remembered as being shorter in routine conditions than in nonroutine ones. This trend was reversed in experienced (prospective) judgments when participants were informed beforehand of the duration-judgment task (Study 3). In Studies 5 and 6, the authors examined remembered duration judgments of vacationers and kibbutz members, which provided further support for the main hypothesis.
ISSN:0096-3445
1939-2222
DOI:10.1037/0096-3445.132.4.543