As those who feel that return journeys are shorter, we are not alone. In fact, this situation takes place as “return trip effect” in the literature.
Of course, this effect does not apply to all situations. For example, when we receive an urgent call and focus all of our focus on going somewhere, the return journey may feel shorter. Likewise, we may not feel the “return trip effect” in places we routinely go.
The experiment conducted in 2011 brought some explanations to the subject.
Niels Van de Ven and his colleagues conducted several experiments on the “return trip effect” in 2011.
In one of the experiments, cyclists were asked to take a certain route, and on the way back, they were asked to return to the starting point by different routes. While the cyclists in the control group turned the same route, the others reached the starting point from different routes.
As a result of the experiment, very little difference was found between the time estimates of cyclists riding different routes of the same length.
This may be related to our expectations.
Niels Van de Ven and colleagues explain this by assuming that outbound journeys take longer than we expected. In other words, we think that if the outbound journey takes longer than we expected, the return journey will also take longer. As a result of this expectation, the return journey seems shorter to us.
In our routine trips (going to work, going to the market, visiting family), our expectations are more realistic and we do not feel the “return trip effect” much.
One of the assumptions of Roy et al., who conducted the study, is on “time relevance.”
According to Roy, when we need to be in a place at a certain time for a job, our time relevance is high when we get there. For this reason, we feel the time going forward as longer.
When returning from our starting point, time is not so important and so we are distracted or distracted by what is going on around us. In short, our time relevance is low when we have no obligations.
According to another assumption, “time dilation” may be possible on the route.
In the case of being experienced for the first time (going somewhere for the first time), time may seem slower because the stimuli are unknown.
This explanation is also supported by studies on time perception. In short, our mind perceives the familiar path we will take as shorter thanks to these familiarities.
- Sources: Van de Ven, N., Van Rijswijk, L., & Roy, British Psychological Society, Psychology Today
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