Peak-end rule

The Peak-end rule is a psychological principle suggesting that people's overall memory of an experience is heavily influenced by its most intense point (peak) and how it ends, rather than the total duration or overall average. For example, a unpleasant dental visit might be remembered more for the worst moment or how it finished rather than the entire experience. This means our feelings about experiences are shaped by those highlights and final moments, which influence future choices and perceptions more than the entire event.