Gestalt characteristics of experiences: the defining features of summarized events

Abstract

In this paper we take stock of recent research on how people summarize and evaluate extended experiences. Summary assessments do not simply integrate all the components of the evaluated events, but tend to focus on only a few features (gestalt characteristics). Examples of these defining features include the rate at which the transient state components of the experience become more or less pleasant over its duration, and the intensity of the state at key instances, in particular the most intense (peak) and the final (end ) moments. It is not yet sufficiently clear which specific gestalt characteristics dominate summary assessments of experiences, nor how this differs across types of experiences or measurement approaches. To address some of these issues, we describe new research in this area, discuss potential methodological difficulties, and suggest directions for future research. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.