Time is tight: how higher economic value of time increases feelings of time pressure

J Appl Psychol. 2011 Jul;96(4):665-76. doi: 10.1037/a0022148.

Abstract

The common heuristic association between scarcity and value implies that more valuable things appear scarcer (King, Hicks, & Abdelkhalik, 2009), an effect we show applies to time as well. In a series of studies, we found that both income and wealth, which affect the economic value of time, influence perceived time pressure. Study 1 found that changes in income were associated with changes in perceived time pressure. Studies 2-4 showed that experimentally manipulating time's perceived economic value caused greater feelings of time pressure and less patient behavior. Finally, Study 5 demonstrated that the relationship between income and time pressure was strengthened when participants were randomly assigned to think about the precise economic value of their time.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Australia
  • Behavior / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Income*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Psychological
  • Personality
  • Psychological Tests
  • Psychological Theory
  • Socioeconomic Factors*
  • Stress, Psychological / economics*
  • Time*
  • Young Adult