Kappa effect

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The Kappa effect is a term relating to the human perception of time. This effect is noted in the study of psychology.

The term was coined in 1953 by researchers publishing in the journal Nature.[1]

Contents

[edit] Concept

The Kappa effect can be displayed when considering a journey made in two parts that take an equal amount of time. Between these two parts, the journey that covers more distance will appear to take longer than the journey covering less distance, even though they take an equal amount of time. Practically speaking, a faster journey over more distance will still appear more time-consuming than a slower journey over less distance.

[edit] Related concepts

Another phenomenon in human psychology, the "Tau effect", describes a related effect also dealing with two equidistant parts in a journey: the part of the journey that takes more time to complete will appear to have covered more distance. In essence, a slower journey will appear to cover more ground than a faster one, since it takes more time to do so.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Cohen, J. , Hansel, C. E. M. , and Sylvester, J. D. , Nature, 172, 901 (1953).
  • Goodall, Brian. Dictionary of Human Geography, Penguin Books, 1987.

[edit] External links

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