When a few minutes sound like a lifetime: does atmospheric music expand or contract perceived time?

Authors

Nicole Bailey, Environmetrics Pty. Ltd
Charles S. Areni, University of SydneyFollow

RIS ID

108407

Publication Details

Bailey, N. & Areni, C. S. (2006). When a few minutes sound like a lifetime: does atmospheric music expand or contract perceived time?. Journal of Retailing, 82 (3), 189-202.

Abstract

In the first of two experiments, the estimated duration of a given interval was shorter when familiar as opposed to unfamiliar music was played, but only for respondents waiting idly; music had little or no effect on respondents engaged in a memory task during the interval. In the second experiment, respondents waiting idly again reported shorter estimates of duration when they heard familiar as opposed to unfamiliar music, but only when they heard a sufficient number of songs during the interval. On the other hand, respondents engaged in a memory task reported longer estimates of duration when they heard familiar as opposed to unfamiliar music, but again only when they heard a sufficient number of songs. These results are consistent with attentional (i.e., waiting condition) versus discrete events (i.e., memory task condition) models of duration judgments, respectively.