Reflection and Perception: Why Were Mirrors Originally Installed in Elevators to Address a Psychological Complaint About Slow Travel Speeds?

Have you ever stepped into an elevator and instinctively checked your hair or adjusted your tie in the mirror? While it feels like a natural part of our daily routine, the presence of these mirrors wasn't originally intended for vanity. In fact, it was the result of a brilliant psychological "hack" designed to solve one of the most frustrating problems of early high-rise living. During the post-industrial boom, building managers faced a barrage of complaints from tenants regarding the agonizingly slow speed of elevators. The solution wasn't a mechanical overhaul, but a shift in human perception. This blog post explores why mirrors were originally installed in elevators to address a psychological complaint about slow travel speeds and how this decision revolutionized the way we experience modern architecture.

The Problem of "Slow" Travel

As cities grew vertically in the early 20th century, the elevator became an essential piece of technology. However, compared to modern standards, these early machines were incredibly slow. As buildings climbed higher, the time spent traveling between floors increased, leading to widespread frustration.

Building managers initially turned to engineers to solve the problem. They requested faster motors and more efficient pulley systems. However, at the time, the cost of increasing mechanical speed was astronomical, and the technology had reached its physical limits for safety. According to architectural historians, the real issue wasn't the actual speed of the elevator (the "objective time"), but rather how long the trip felt to the passengers (the "subjective time"). When people have nothing to do but stare at a blank door, their internal clock slows down, and boredom turns into irritation.

The Psychological Solution: Occupied Time

The breakthrough came when designers stopped looking at the elevator’s motor and started looking at the passengers' minds. This is a classic example of what psychologists now call the "Occupied Time" theory. This principle suggests that:

• Unoccupied time feels longer than occupied time.
• Pre-process waits (waiting for the elevator) feel longer than in-process waits (being inside the elevator).
• Anxiety makes waits seem longer.

By installing mirrors, building owners provided a simple, low-cost distraction. Instead of focusing on the ticking seconds or the vibrating floor, passengers became preoccupied with their own reflections. They would check their appearance, fix their hair, or observe other passengers discreetly. This mental engagement effectively "occupied" their time, making a 60-second trip feel like it only took 30 seconds.

Beyond Vanity: The Practical Benefits of Mirrors

While the primary goal was to mask slow travel speeds, mirrors provided several secondary benefits that cemented their place in elevator design:

1. Reducing Claustrophobia

Elevators are essentially small, windowless metal boxes. For many, this triggers a sense of confinement or claustrophobia. Mirrors create an optical illusion of depth, making the small cab appear much larger and more open. This reduces the physical anxiety of being in a cramped space, which in turn makes the wait feel less burdensome.

2. Enhancing Safety and Security

Mirrors allow passengers to see what others in the elevator are doing without having to turn around directly. This provides a sense of security, as you can monitor your surroundings in a confined space. In modern buildings, this visibility is a subtle but effective way to discourage anti-social behavior.

3. Accessibility and Navigation

For wheelchair users, mirrors serve a vital functional purpose. Because many elevator cabs are too small to turn a wheelchair around, the mirrors allow users to see the floor numbers behind them and safely back out of the elevator when they reach their destination.

The Legacy of User Experience Design

The decision to install mirrors is one of the earliest and most successful examples of what we now call User Experience (UX) design. It proves that a "human" problem doesn't always require a "technical" solution. Rather than spending millions on faster engines, building managers spent a few dollars on glass and achieved the same level of tenant satisfaction.

This approach is still used today in various industries. For example, airports often place baggage carousels further away from the arrival gates so that the time passengers spend walking reduces the time they spend standing still waiting for their luggage. Like the elevator mirror, it is a way of managing human psychology to improve a service.

Conclusion

The history of mirrors in elevators is a fascinating look at how psychology can solve complex engineering challenges. By understanding that the complaint of "slow speeds" was actually a complaint about boredom and anxiety, early building managers utilized mirrors to transform the passenger experience. Today, mirrors remain a staple of elevator design, serving as a reminder that the way we perceive a situation is often more important than the objective reality of the situation itself. Next time you find yourself checking your reflection on the way to the 10th floor, remember that you are participating in a century-old psychological experiment designed to make your journey just a little bit faster.