I sometimes have the impression that the way back from somewhere seems shorter than the way there.
Many people seem to have this.
What makes our brains think that the way back from somewhere is shorter than the way there? Is it because we know what’s coming?
Answer
Our perception of time is indeed very subjective. You describe an example of this. The answer you suggest yourself can certainly be an element. Yet I myself would rather look for the cause in something other than the road travelled, namely in the reasons why you travel the road.
On an outward journey you drive to a place where you want to be as quickly as possible, in many cases you even have an appointment time. And the crazy thing about our perception of time is that what we want to go fast, seems to move slowly, and vice versa. Just think how fast time seems to fly forward when you’re having fun at a party with friends, versus how painfully slow the same time period creeps forward during a boring event. So: you want to get to that destination as quickly as possible on your way there, and that is precisely why it seems to take longer.
On a way back you usually have more time, and it doesn’t matter when you get back (if you do have to be on time again, you call this a new ‘out’ rather than a way back). And so time seems to go faster!
Answered by
Dr Hans Op de Beeck
neuroscience and psychology, with an emphasis on visual perception and learning
Old Market 13 3000 Leuven
https://www.kuleuven.be/
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