Which experience would you repeat?
A simple peak–end summary can differ from the average of every moment.
Inside this model
Experience A has scores [6,6,6,6,ending]; B has [4,7,7,7,6]. The plot compares cumulative average and a peak–end score equal to the mean of maximum and final score.
Out in the world
A practical use
When evaluating an event, compare the full record with the moments that stand out in memory.
A useful lens. Not a universal law.
- Human memory is not literally a two-number formula, and negative experiences can behave differently.
Associated thinkers
Further reading
Explore the original research or the teaching reference behind this experiment.
Fredrickson and Kahneman — Duration Neglect in Retrospective Evaluations ↗