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What is the peak-end rule?

PsychologyLesson on requestFree to read

Quick answer

The peak-end rule is the finding that people judge an experience mostly by how it felt at its most intense moment (the peak) and at its end — not by the average of every moment. It strongly shapes our memories and reviews of events.

Key things to understand

  1. We judge experiences by their peak and their ending.
  2. The average of all moments matters far less.
  3. A strong finish can redeem a rough experience.
  4. It shapes reviews, memories, and customer satisfaction.

People also ask

What is the peak-end rule?
The tendency to judge an experience mainly by its most intense moment and how it ended.
Why does the peak-end rule matter?
It means the ending of an experience disproportionately shapes how people remember and rate it.
How is the peak-end rule used?
Businesses design strong peaks and endings — like a great finish to a visit — to boost satisfaction.