Irrational Behavior in Adaptation: Difference of Adaptation Process to Comfort and Discomfort Stimulus When Presented All Together or Intermittently

It is generally assumed that the interruption (break) of positive (comfortable) or negative (uncomfortable) experiences disrupt adaptation and consequently intensify the subsequent positive or negative experience. Therefore, it can be speculated that interrupting a consumption experience makes comfortable experiences more delightful and interruption of uncomfortable and painful experience makes this more irritating. This study aimed at verifying this irrational behavior in adaptation process. The comfortable and uncomfortable experiences were an experience of relaxing massage and that of immersing one’s hand in the cold water. It was explored how the interruptive experience of positive (comfortable) or negative (uncomfortable) stimulus disrupt adaptation and intensify subsequent experience as compared with the continuous experience of the same stimuli (experience of the stimulus by bulk). This was investigated as a function of experience time A (comfort stimulus: 300 and 600 s, discomfort stimulus: 50 and 150 s) and duration of interruption B (30, 60, and 90 s for both comfort and discomfort).