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How time flies: a study of novice skydivers
Leah A Campbell1, Richard A Bryant
1School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia.
Behaviour Research and Therapy
|July 25, 2006
Summary
Fear slows time perception during stressful events, while excitement speeds it up. This study explored affect
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Time distortion is frequently reported during traumatic events, yet remains under-researched.
- Affective states significantly influence subjective experiences, including the perception of time.
- Understanding time perception in high-stress situations is crucial for psychological research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of affect (fear and excitement) in time perception during a highly stressful experience.
- To examine how pre-jump affective states predict post-jump time estimations.
- To test the hypothesis that approach and avoidance motivations mediate affect-induced time distortion.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 76 novice tandem skydivers participated in the study.
- Fear and excitement levels were measured before the skydive and immediately after landing.
- Participants estimated the duration of their skydive experience after landing.
Main Results:
- Increased levels of fear were significantly associated with the perception of time passing more slowly.
- Elevated excitement levels correlated with the perception of time passing more quickly.
- Affective states demonstrated a clear influence on subjective time perception during the stressful event.
Conclusions:
- The findings support theoretical models linking motivation (approach/avoidance) to time distortion.
- Affective arousal plays a critical role in modulating subjective time perception under stress.
- Further research should explore the neurobiological underpinnings of affect-driven time perception.
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