Why We Don't Like to Wait

The video discusses the psychology of waiting, highlighting how our perception of time can be influenced by distractions and attention. It explains that waiting feels longer when we're bored and that engaging activities can make time seem to pass faster. Experiments show that our ability to estimate time is linked to how much attention we pay to tasks. Companies use psychological tricks to improve customer satisfaction without reducing wait times. Uncertainty can increase anxiety and make waits feel longer, but knowing wait times can improve experiences.

What is the main factor that influences how we perceive waiting times?

• The location of the waiting area

• The number of people in line

• The actual duration of the wait

• How we experience and think about the wait

In the experiment with the bank's news ticker, what was the outcome?

• Customers believed the bank had more tellers

• Customers were less satisfied

• Customers felt the wait was longer

• The average wait time decreased significantly

What do psychologists propose about our attentional resources?

• They are only used when we are bored

• They have no impact on time perception

• They are limited and focusing on a task reduces time awareness

• They are unlimited and can be focused on multiple tasks

How did the Houston airport reduce complaints about baggage claim wait times?

• By hiring more staff

• By shortening the walk to baggage claim

• By moving arrival gates further from baggage claim

• By providing free Wi-Fi

What effect does knowing the wait time have on people's perception?

• It increases anxiety

• It makes the wait feel longer

• It has no effect

• It makes the wait feel shorter