Psychologist Steve Taylor from Beckett University explained the phenomenon of “time expansion,” where people feel events slow down during dangerous situations. The results of his ten-year study are published in his new book and a scientific journal.
New research by psychologist Steve Taylor from Beckett University in Leeds reveals the cause of the “time expansion” phenomenon, where people perceive events as slowing down in hazardous situations. The results of the decade-long study are published in his book, The Time Expansion Experience, and in The Journal of Humanistic Psychology.
According to Taylor, roughly half of these episodes of altered time perception occur during accidents, while the remainder happen during activities like sports, meditation, or psychedelic experiences. The scientist notes that conventional explanations—such as a norepinephrine release, an evolutionary survival mechanism, or a memory illusion—do not cover the full spectrum of observations.
Taylor’s theory suggests that the time-slowing effect occurs due to an altered state of consciousness. In such moments, the person is able to process information significantly faster than normal. Sudden shock or intense concentration disrupts standard psychological processes, creating the effect of time slowing down or “expanding.”
The research suggests that time perception is not only a physical phenomenon related to gravity and the spacetime continuum but also a dynamic state of consciousness that is altered by the influence of extreme events.
