A phenomenological analysis of the experience of time

The purpose of this study was to develop a category system capable of describing the human experience of time. An empirical phenomenological approach was used, in which the primary method of data collection involved interviewing 20 mature, articulate subjects about their "experience of time" in various situations and at various times in their lives. Information about their experience of time was also elicited by having them respond to time metaphors. A brief personality questionnaire, the Leary Interpersonal Check List, was also administered.

Data reduction was accomplished by progressively collapsing the interview and time metaphor data onto a smaller number of themes, which ultimately produced a category system consisting of three major categories: (1) Change and Continuity or Becoming in time; (2) Limits and Choices or Doing in time; and (3) Tempo or Pacing in time. Reliability of the system was assessed in terms of interrater procedures using three independent raters. All interviews were scored according to the category system developed and measures of central tendency obtained. Correlations were obtained between the Time Category scores produced by the subjects and Dominance and Love scores on the Leary Interpersonal Check List.

Results of the study were discussed in terms of their relevance to previous research on the experience of time, relevance to personality theory and to theories of psychopathology. Cautious conclusions about the relationship between the Time Categories and Leary's dimensions of Dominance vs. Submission and Love vs. Hate were made, by reframing the meaning of the Leary dimensions in terms of an Action vs. Reflection and Other vs. Self focus orientation. The theoretical distinction between Becoming in time (Change and Continuity) and Doing in time (Limits and Choices), highlighted by the category system, was discussed in terms of different personality styles as well as in terms of the experience of anxiety.

Suggestions for future research were made in terms of determining behavioral correlates for the dimensions of time experience recovered from the interviews and of constructing a Temporal Inventory based on the categories obtained.