The Psychology of Time Perception

Classical and modern research on timing in children is reviewed, as well as work on time perception and time experience in older people. John Wearden is Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Keele University, UK. He has authored more than 120 articles and book chapters, mostly on time perception in humans and animals. How do people perceive time? This book presents a wealth of contemporary and classical research, including some of the history and philosophy of time perception. Influential internal clock-based models of time perception receive an in-depth but non-technical introduction and discussion. The role of cognition and emotion in perceiving time is also explored, as well as questions derived from time experience in daily life, such as why time seems to pass more quickly in one situation rather than another. Classical and modern research on timing in children is reviewed, as well as work on time perception and time experience in older people. Leading recent models of animal timing are also discussed in a non-mathematical way.