Theory 004/Acoustics & Vibration

Annoyance Tracks Change

The claim

Annoyance from environmental noise follows the rate of change of exposure rather than its level, so a stable noisy area can be tolerated while a quieting area remains a complaint source.

01The mechanism

Attention is drawn to change; a steady exposure fades from awareness while a rising one does not.

02Predictions

P1Complaints should correlate with trend better than level.
P2Stable high exposure should generate fewer complaints than rising moderate exposure.

03Refutation

Complaints tracking level at controlled trend would restore the level model.