Just Ask Jenna Looks At Vacation Memories

by Jenna C, ’26

Dear Jenna,

When I checked into a hotel over winter break, the first experience was stressful and disappointing. The rest of the stay was actually fine, but that first moment is what I remember most. Why does the beginning seem to define the whole experience?

From,
Can’t Get Past Check-In

Dear Can’t Get Past Check-In,

First impressions are powerful, especially when you are tired, travelling, and already a little overwhelmed. A rough check-in can shape how you feel about the stay before you even settle in, so it makes sense that it sticks with you more than the uneventful parts that came later. 

In economics, this relates to a concept called anchoring. Anchoring happens when the first piece of information of the experience you have becomes a reference point for everything that follows. While you are actually on the trip, your experiencing you is living each moment as it happens, from relaxing downtime to small positive interactions. But when the trip is over, your remembering you steps in and tends to highlight moments that are especially intense, either really good or really bad. In your case, that early stressful moment becomes the anchor your memory returns to, which is likely why your whole trip comes across as more negative than it actually was. 

This does not mean your memory is wrong, just that it is incomplete. Anchoring can cause the remembering you to focus on standout moments and overlook the rest. Taking a step back and intentionally thinking about the entire trip can help you judge it more fairly, rather than letting one bad moment define everything that followed. 

Best of luck!
Jenna 

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