Why we need to use the peak-end rule
How our brain tricks us to remember specific parts of an experience
Hi everyone,
Today, I will talk about this really important evidence-backed idea called the peak-end rule. The idea is that we remember a memory or an experience based on how we felt at the peak moments + how we felt at the end. We don’t care about the average. It looks something like this where the light blue experience is considered mediocre in hindsight despite being more positive on average.
This is cool because this knowledge can help us create wonderful memories for ourselves & prevent bad ones. I will try to explain it simply but if you want a more detailed reading or the scientific resources, read more here.
When we try to remember an experience or a memory, we usually don’t focus on the average. We focus on the peaks (both top & bottom) & the ending. The diagram above shows it well.
So, a good experience (on average) can turn into a bad memory for us if the ending is bad. Example: You go to a restaurant & it has decent food & a nice environment but the service staff is rude to you at the very end & which ruins your entire memory of it.
Or, a bad experience (on average) can turn into a beautiful memory due to a highly positive peak & a positive ending. Example: For many mothers, childbirth can be a beautiful memory despite being pretty painful throughout given it peaks with the child being born & becoming a part of your life at the end.
Parts of this rule have been proven time & again in studies either showing we tend to remember intense emotional events far more or that we tend to have a bias for remembering recent events.
Now, that you know this you can try to ensure that you take advantage of this to create nice experiences for yourself.
For example, if you are going on a trip or a date, you can try to end it on a high note. At least, try to make sure you don’t end it with a fight or an argument. Make sure to keep something really memorable for a good peak on one of the days of the trip (for example: buying a cute gift that they aren’t expecting or writing them a nice letter or cooking a surprise meal). I will talk about how to make something more memorable, next week.
Or if you are working out, make sure the end is not too painful since then you will be less likely to want to exercise once more. You can have a calm-down period where you gradually reduce the pain & have a somewhat pleasant end.
If you are a teacher, you can end your courses with the positive parts of the assessments for your students. You can sprinkle one or two really fun events during the course that they will remember like a surprise class or exam excused, or a special trip or picnic for the class.
If you run a business, you can try to have a pleasant surprise for your customer at the end like a gift card. The point is moving forward, anytime you are trying to create an experience with or for someone or even yourself, the peak-end rule can come in very handy to help you make the most out of it.
Our life is a compilation of our memories. Trying to create beautiful ones with our loved ones by taking advantage of our psychological tendencies can help build a truly beautiful & fulfilling life.
Make nice memories,
Seeam
Different people try to use the peak-end rule in different ways. Here is a video, for example, on how user-experience design can benefit from the peak-end rule while trying to create nice products.