Temporal Processing Across Geographic Regions: How Different Regions in the United States Perceive Punctuality
Abstract
The present study examines how regionality may play a role in temporal perception,specifically relating to attitudes towards punctuality. Participants from the College of Wooster were drawn from three regions in the United States (Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast). The purpose of this study was to observe how geographic influences affect cognitive temporal factors, such as time processing. Participants were placed into one of two time conditions (either a 5-minute wait period or a 15-minute wait period) and asked to estimate how long they were waiting. Participants were also asked to rate their aggravation towards having to wait for the experimenter to show up. There were no differences in reported aggravation about waiting for the experimenter, although a regional effect was approaching significance. Those waiting longer seemed to lose track of time, as they significantly underestimated wait time.