Time perception

    Time perception 

Title: THE MYSTERY OF TIME 

Introduction:

Have you ever noticed how time seems to speed up when you're having fun but also drags on when you’re in a boring meeting?

Though the hours on the clock are consistent, the way we experience them are different.

Time perception is a normal part of the human experience shaped by psychology, memory and even aging.

In this blog, we'll explore why our brain processes time differently depending on our activities.

Let me break down the mysteries behind how and why we experience time differently.

https://youtube.com/shorts/FeYSyrSp4PQ?si=XhFuAk3PPBiizGPP

 

What is perception? It is the way our brain interprets the world around us and gathers information using our senses. Our nervous system receives signals from physical and chemical stimulation of our senses and our brain uses these signals to make sense of the world. From the different types of perception, I'm going to discuss Time Perception. Time perception: In psychology, time perception is the subjective experience that is measured by one's own perception. It can also vary from person to person and from situation to situation.

Time perception when you're having fun:

When you're deeply involved or enjoying something your brain processes the experience smoothly and will not be conscious about time. As a result, time seems to pass by quickly as you're not constantly checking the time.

Example: spending time with friends, playing.

Time perception when you're bored:

When you're bored, your brain is less engaged. As a result, you become more aware of time passing and you will frequently check the clock and every second seems to get longer.

Example: waiting in line, attending a dull lecture.

How emotions influence time perception:

Emotions affect time perception mainly through arousal mechanisms (the body processes that regulate alertness, wakefulness, and attention), with subjects perceiving significantly longer times in high-arousal moods than in low-arousal moods.

During stressful situations, time seems to slow down. On the other hand, positive emotions can make time fly.

Time perception in different cultures: Time is an important element in our society and our country. It discusses how different cultures value time differently. A psychologist ROBERT LEVINE analyzed different cultures' attitudes toward time. For example: few economically developed countries are more relaxed about punctuality like the US and other countries like Germany are fast-paced and they greatly value time since "time is money". On the other hand, poorly developed countries emphasize time management and deadlines like the Middle East and Latin America- slow pace. They have a relaxed attitude towards time.

Time perception and age :

Time perception changes as we age. For example, for children, time seems to move slowly because every day is filled with fun and they also experience new things. A single year feels endless because everything is new and memorable for them.

For adults, time seems to move faster because they have to do the same thing every day like going to work. A year in adulthood feels like no time at all.

Time perception and impulsive decision making: It is heavily influenced by how people perceive time . Individuals tend to focus on the present moment, undervalue the future, and make choices that satisfy their immediate desires. Example: Every day we have to decide between options that have immediate or delayed consequences. A person restricting themselves from junk food to reduce weight is a momentary loss of pleasure associated with food to gain the future benefits of better physical health and appearance.

Memory and time perception: Memory plays a crucial role in how we perceive time. When we create many new memories, time seems to slow down because we are focused and engaged in experiences. Example : A vacation filled with joy and happiness can feel longer in our memory whereas a week spent at work feels really short. Our brain processes memories differently based on how much attention we give to events. If we remember something vividly, it can make the time surrounding that memory feel more significant. In essence, our perception of time is influenced by how rich and detailed our memories are.

 

Conclusion:

Time is what we make of it and we can't control time, we can only /control how we spend it.

References:

YouTube. (n.d.). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSy0Z7XCF3E

Mraovic, J. (2021, September 14). The perception of time in different cultures. Clockify Blog. https://clockify.me/blog/managing-time/time-perception/

Author links open overlay panelMarc Wittmann 1 3, 1, 3, 2, Time is an important dimension when individuals make decisions. Specifically, Bauer, L. O., Reynolds, B., Takahashi, T., Barratt, E. S., Broek, M. D. van den, Lane, S. D., Loewenstein, G., Glicksohn, J., Ivry, R. B., Staddon, J. E. R., Pöppel, E., Wittmann, M., Meck, W. H., Monterosso, J., … Carrillo-de-la-Peña, M. T. (2007, November 26). Decision making, impulsivity and time perception. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364661307002811

Üstün, S., Kale, E. H., & Çiçek, M. (2017, February 24). Neural networks for time perception and working memory. Frontiers in human neuroscience. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5324352/