Why Are There No “Clocks” in Casinos and Shopping Malls?

This deficiency, which seems like a simple detail at first glance, is actually part of a cunning strategy played on us. When we enter, we lose track of time, we enter during the day. from the shopping mall after dark Thinking about the times we dated, one can’t help but ask.

Do not worry, with this little trick There are relevant scientific explanations. However, let us warn you from the beginning; When you learn the reason for this situation, which creates a slight confusion in perception, we say that you can now check the time you spend in these places every once in a while.

Have you ever walked into IKEA and walked around for hours without finding the exit?

We seem to hear your answer. It is impossible to see a clock or even an open window in any IKEA store or shopping mall. The source of this strategic design is based on the way casinos are designed. People who gamble should not realize how much time they waste inside There are no clocks or windows inside. This is kind of a strategic move.

The same in shopping malls We also see. We suddenly find ourselves losing ourselves in these spaces, which, with exceptions, do not even have windows. Well, even though we know this perception, how can we still fall for it?

We can explain this with temporal distortion. So what is it?

temporal distortion, It refers to a change in the individual’s perception of time. For example, if you have noticed the hours passing from the moment you say “5 more minutes” to the moment you look up while playing a game or watching a video, you have experienced temporal distortion.

This phenomenon is actually a very frequently used strategy. To make it harder for you to remember the time you spent in the store Using fewer visual stimuli encourages people to shop, play or linger longer.

Temporal distortion is a tricky pattern, depending on whether the stimulated activity is addictive or not.

temporal distortion The most obvious benefit for stores is essentially encouraging customers to stay in the store longer. If people shop for hours rather than minutes, the logic comes into play: “they will be more likely to make an impulse purchase and buy more items.”

Another situation behind this situation is decision fatigue. Since decision making is a process that consumes mental energy, we can understand how choices tire the human brain and make a person more susceptible to making bad decisions or reluctant to make a decision.

This is actually a sales strategy. With decision fatigue, the person who makes a bad decision will tend to give up and replace it with something else.

The Venetian casino in Las Vegas uses this perception in an engaging way, providing customers with an unforgettable experience. A part of the casino’s interior attracts attention with its ceiling painted with a blue sky. This detail By enriching the atmosphere, guests feel as if it were a real sky and that little time has passed. It gives the feeling.

Although the paint used to create the ceiling is constant, changes occur in the lighting details designed to simulate the sunset outside. In this way Tracking time spent in the casino becomes more difficult and visitors can enjoy the entertainment while getting away from the real world.

There is also a different effect of this situation: the Gruen Effect.

Gruen EffectIt is an attempt to create a planned atmosphere by using certain elements in the design of a space by consciously distracting and distracting the person. This effect describes the situation in which people who enter a store or casino lose concentration, lose track of time and, accordingly, tend to shop more.

We are playing on people who have potential customers. As I see psychological games It’s actually such a scary scene, isn’t it?

This is why there is no temporal indication in casinos and shopping malls. By manipulating our perception of time we are encouraged to shop more, spend more money; whether we want it or not!