Short intervals are overestimated and long intervals are underestimated in retrospect.
Vierordt's 1868 finding, and the indifference point sits around three seconds. It is why brief waits feel longer than they are and long meetings feel shorter in retrospect.
In practice
- A cook asked to judge thirty seconds by feel gives forty; asked to judge five minutes, gives four.
- A four-minute wait feels longer than four minutes and a four-hour meeting feels shorter in retrospect, which is why waiting-room design targets the short end.
- Further reading
- Wikipedia
- Subject
- Psychology & Behavior
- Essay
- A century and a half of measuring the mind