A Matter of Time

The Clock in our Heads: Famous psychologists’ view of time

QuoteBy

It is important to remember that measured time is not absolute, simply because it can be recorded.  The way that individuals interpret time has a large impact on how they relate to it, and therefore the study of psychology can have a direct impact on the study of time. Sometimes, time seems to be moving fast, -but is this quick pace only relative to the observer, or does the rate of time’s passing ever actually change?  A person’s personality has a lot to do with the way they perceive things, including the way they perceive time.  Many different variables can be traced back to perception—one of the main components in the study of psychology.  These variables play an important role in determining the impact of time in our lives.  Many psychologists have acknowledged this fact, and have attempted to explain how these things affect daily life by using some of the theories and observations described below.

The phrase “time flies when you’re having fun” is a common one.  Children and adults alike quote it when they come to feel as though workdays last forever while their precious little free time slips away so quickly.  Jean Piaget explained this phenomena as the sensation of “lived” time—the notion that different people will interpret time in different ways.  Despite the fact that when ten minutes has passed according to the clock, that same ten minutes may seem like an hour to someone waiting for an important phone call.  Likewise, that same time ten minutes may feel like a fleeting second to someone enjoying a game of tennis.  Seconds seem to last forever for someone waiting for the countdown on a microwave, while they go by quickly for a person on a rollercoaster.  A certain timed interval does not always feel as though it encompasses an equivalent span of existence in ones life.  That is, we don’t always feel like we are getting an hour's worth of living out of each and every clocked hour.  Instead, the span of time experienced depends greatly on the activity that the individual is engaging in.  Sometimes it can be difficult for us to grasp that it is merely the mind that creates the illusion of slower or faster time.

Although not based on the ideas of a psychologist, Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity supports the idea that time is, as the name suggests, relative to the person experiencing it.  Therefore, his theories also have roots in psychology.  The following is an interesting observation derived from one of his theories. “If two clocks are separated by a large distance…some [observers] will say the clocks indicate the same time, [while] others will say one clock is ahead of the other…Also, different observers will disagree about whether the clocks are running normally, or faster, or slower than normal.  But all will agree that the two clocks are running at the same speed” (GM Arts). This indicates that people know that time has a regular pace, but also realize that this doesn’t prevent them from holding different views and opinions about that pace.  Two clocks will be observed as maintaining the same speed, but one person will say the that speed the clocks are running on is “fast” while another will say that it is “slow.”  It is almost natural to change such phrases to “relatively fast” or “relatively slow.”  Such tendencies indicate that people are at least partially aware that the mind has as much of an impact on time as natural forces such as gravity do.

Personality also plays a role in perception. Since time, to a certain degree, is a matter of perception, it follows that our personality must have an influence on our personal time.  Personalities are commonly split into type A and type B.  Type  A personalities tend to be under stress constantly, worry about the speed at which they are accomplishing things, always check their watches, show up early for appointments, and feel rushed. They also tend to show signs of impatience, hostility, and perfectionism. These traits, lending to a feeling that there is never enough time, can eventually cause heart disease and possibly even stroke if they become too extreme. Type B personalities, on the other hand, are more laid back and philosophical, and tend to take life one day at a time, rather than constantly planning and living in the future. Some people can be a mix of both A and B type personalities, depending on the situation they’re in. Not sure which one you are? You can take a quiz and find out (external link).

Most psychologists would agree that the mind plays an important role in how we view the world and its many, complex components. Personality and perception are two of the most direct ways that the mind allows us to do this. Since time is a major part of our life on earth, and since those two aspects of psychology are major parts of how we are able to experience that life, it is only natural that our personality and perception work together to influence our interpretation of time.

Back to top ^