Steve is undergoing a medical procedure that only takes twenty minutes but will be very painful at the end. Deborah is undergoing a medical procedure that takes over two hours and will be very painful at the beginning, but the pain tapers off over the rest of the time. Afterward, which one will remember experiencing more pain?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of the peak-end rule in psychology, which suggests that individuals’ memories of a certain experience are largely based on two things: the intensity of the most painful/pleasurable moment and the intensity of the experience at the end. In this case, Steve’s procedure is more likely to stick out in his memory because of the painful end. While Deborah’s procedure may have been more painful overall, the pain tapers off, and so the intensity at the end may not be as strong. Therefore, Steve is more likely to remember experiencing more pain.

Steve Is Undergoing a Medical Procedure That Only Takes Twenty