The influence of motion features in temporal perception

TL;DR

This study investigates how manner-of-motion verbs influence subjective temporal perception and emotional experiences, revealing that faster verbs evoke positive, dynamic perceptions while slower verbs evoke negative, passive ones, especially in metaphorical contexts.

Contribution

It demonstrates the significant role of manner-of-motion verbs in shaping emotional and experiential aspects of time perception, highlighting their influence beyond literal meanings.

Findings

Faster verbs evoke positive, dynamic temporal experiences.

Slower verbs convey passivity and negative emotions.

Participants prefer manner verbs over path verbs in emotional temporal contexts.

Abstract

This paper examines the role of manner-of-motion verbs in shaping subjective temporal perception and emotional resonance. Through four complementary studies, we explore how these verbs influence the conceptualization of time, examining their use in literal and metaphorical (temporal) contexts. Our findings reveal that faster verbs (e.g., fly, zoom) evoke dynamic and engaging temporal experiences, often linked to positive emotions and greater agency. In contrast, slower verbs (e.g., crawl, drag) convey passivity, monotony, and negative emotions, reflecting tedious or constrained experiences of time. These effects are amplified in metaphorical contexts, where manner verbs encode emotional and experiential nuances that transcend their literal meanings. We also find that participants prefer manner verbs over path verbs (e.g., go, pass) in emotionally charged temporal contexts, as manner verbs capture the experiential and emotional qualities of time more effectively. These findings highlight the interplay between language, motion, and emotion in shaping temporal perception, offering insights into how linguistic framing influences subjective experiences of time.