by Kevin Burton
This is a story about “approach motivation” and “the ganas,” also known as time flies when you’re having fun.
See also: time flies all the time.
“Time flies when you’re having fun.” Nobody had to explain that one to you, even the first time you heard it. Here’s some of the science behind it:
“A new study from psychological science suggests that the old saying ‘time flies when you’re having fun’ might really be true, with a slight twist: time flies when you’re having goal-motivated fun,” wrote Sarah Glynn in Medical News Today.
“When people are experiencing positive emotions or states, they feel like time is passing faster than when they experience negative feelings, according to previous research. However, new research has shown evidence that not all positive states are considered equal.”
“Feelings of contentment or serenity are definitely positive emotions, however, they are not considered very high in what experts call approach motivation. In other words, these feelings do not make people want to go out and achieve a goal,” Glynn wrote.
This is the first time I have encountered the term “approach motivation.” It feels very much like a word I use in Spanish, “ganas.”
“Ganas, when used as a noun, refers to the desire, motivation, or enthusiasm one has towards something. It can be translated as ‘desire,’ ‘urge,’ or ‘inclination’ in English,” according to thecontentauthoority.com.
Yes, time flies in Spanish, if you’ve got the ganas, or approach motivation.
“Desire and excitement are considered very high in approach motivation because they make people want to accomplish something, “Glynn wrote. “People feel as if time is passing quickly when they are particularly in those states that are high in approach motivation, psychological scientists Philip Gable and Bryan Pool of the University of Alabama hypothesized.”
“In order to test their hypothesis, they conducted a series of three experiments which they published in the August 2012 issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.”
“One experiment trained participants to tell the difference between pictures shown for a ‘short’ (400 milliseconds) or a ‘long’ (1600) period of time. Neutral pictures (geometric shapes) that were either positive but low in approach motivation (like flowers), or that were positive and high in approach motivation (delicious desserts) were shown to participants. They had to determine if each picture was displayed for a short or long period of time,” Glynn wrote.
“As expected, the participants perceived the neutral geometric shapes and the pleasing pictures of flower as having been displayed for a longer amount of time than the enticing pictures of desserts.”
“Results also showed that the perceived amount of time for the enticing pictures was related to the time it had been when the participants last ate,” Glynn wrote. “If participants ate recently, which lowered their approach motivation for food, they judged the dessert pictures as having been displayed for a longer period of time than those who were hungrier.”
But for some of us, who have reached a certain age, time just flies all the time, according to an article on the Press Rundown.
“According to experts in the field of psychology and mechanical engineering, our perception of time changes as we age, with children experiencing time differently than adults.”
“Professor Cindy Lustig from the University of Michigan explains that our perception of time is influenced by our perspective and memory. For children, a week may feel like a long time because it represents a significant portion of their life, while for adults, time may seem to go by quickly as they look back on events that are less richly represented in their memory,” the article reads/
“Additionally, the variety of experiences we have in a day can affect how we perceive time. Professor Adrian Bejan from Duke University suggests that our brains are designed to record change, and new experiences can make time feel longer when looking back on them.”
“As we age, our brain processes images differently, which can also impact our perception of time. Bejan explains that adults receive fewer images than they did when they were young, leading to the feeling that time is passing more quickly.”
“To counteract the feeling that time is flying by, experts recommend introducing new experiences into our lives. Trying out new hobbies, traveling to unfamiliar places, and learning new things can help make time feel longer when looking back on our memories.”
“By engaging fully in the present moment and seeking out new opportunities, we can make the most of the time we have and create a sense of time that feels more expansive and fulfilling.”
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