The Effect of Danger upon the Experience of Time

Abstract

Studies on the interrelationship of space and time have demonstrated that when the time-interval between successive flashes of lights is kept constant while the physical distance between them is varied, the obsener's experience of elapsed time does not remain constant but varies with the physical distance.l A further question may be asked as to whether such space-time interrelationship also obtains if the psychological distance is changed through variations other than those of physical distance. Werner and Wapner developed a method of obtaining changes in psychological distance with physical distance held constant. They found that psychological distance changed under conditions of danger; e.g. when S walked toward and stopped short of a precipitous edge, he overestimated the distance he travelled, or stated another way, the edge appeared closer. The introduction of danger affected psychological distance even though physical distance was not changed.2 The purpose of this study was to determine whether the space-time interrelationship obtains when psychological space alone is changed. The presence of danger, known to aSect psychological distance, was introduced as the experimental condition. It was thought that changes in psychological distance, under conditions of danger, would be paralleled by changes in psychological time. More specifically, it was expected that since distance traversed is overestimated under conditions of danger, time elapsed wouId be overestimated under danger.