The Disney Paradox
Nobody complains about their experience at Disney World. But things would look very different if we were to do a minute-by-minute account of our time spent at the theme park. In fact, there’s a lot to be unhappy about.
It’s difficult to move about because the entire place is swarmed. The lines at the rides go on forever, sometimes lasting over an hour. It’s hot and humid, and you can’t stop perspiring. Want to grab a hot dog or a cold drink? That’ll be ten bucks, please.
There’s a good chance you’ll be happier spending the entire day on your couch binge-watching Netflix. Yet for some their trip to Disney World could be the highlight of the year. Why the disconnect?
Chip and Dan Heath have an explanation for that. Here’s their answer in The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact:
“When people assess an experience, they tend to forget or ignore its length. Instead, they seem to rate the experience based on two key moments: (1) the best or worst moment, known as the peak and (2) the ending [..] What’s indisputable is that when we assess our experiences, we don’t average our minute-by minute sensations”
It’s also what psychologists have called the Peak-End rule. It explains why people remember taking photos with Mickey Mouse, their Space Mountain rides and the closing show. But we never think about the inconvenience and hours spent queuing for the highlights when we look back.
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