People are more likely to recall an unpleasant experience as being less painful or annoying if they believe it is over than if they expect it to occur again. On the other hand, they remember fun activities as equally enjoyable whether they think they'll do them again or not.
Bracing for the worst may help people reduce their discomfort if they have a bad experience and allow them to be pleasantly surprised if nothing bad happens.
In a series of experiments, volunteers were exposed to bothersome vacuum noise and made to do tedious computer tasks. The participants recalled these events as being significantly more irritating, boring or annoying if they were told the event would be repeated again soon.
It was also found that women who had recently finished menstruating or who were about to menstruate recalled their period as significantly more painful than woman who were in the middle of their cycle.
People can attempt to maintain their mental balance by using memory to toughen themselves against future challenges.
Bracing for the worst may help people reduce their discomfort if they have a bad experience and allow them to be pleasantly surprised if nothing bad happens.
In a series of experiments, volunteers were exposed to bothersome vacuum noise and made to do tedious computer tasks. The participants recalled these events as being significantly more irritating, boring or annoying if they were told the event would be repeated again soon.
It was also found that women who had recently finished menstruating or who were about to menstruate recalled their period as significantly more painful than woman who were in the middle of their cycle.
People can attempt to maintain their mental balance by using memory to toughen themselves against future challenges.