Doherty Threshold

⚡️

Doherty Threshold

Slow interfaces bore people.

Featured in 8 UX Bites

Similar psychology:

Likely impacts:

Discomfort & Frustration

Happiness & Enjoyment

Last updated: 26/09/2026

How to utilise this in your designs

If a device search runs past a few seconds, you could try showing a link to the setup instructions, so a wait beyond the Doherty Threshold offers a way forward.

Example from

SmartLife

While a long AI request runs, you could experiment with showing small live thumbnails of each step, so a wait past the Doherty Threshold feels less idle.

Example from

Manus

When a chart query is slow to load, you could try teaching users ways to speed up their results, so time beyond the Doherty Threshold becomes useful.

Loading bar in orange showing query progress with text "Reticulating spines" crossed out to "spines...". Suggestion box advises reducing date range and enabling 10% sampling.

Example from

Posthog

During onboarding, you may find that a series of personalised-sounding loading labels builds anticipation, rather than boredom, past the Doherty Threshold.

Minimalist UI screen shows "Personalizing your feeds" with checklist: two green checked items "Gathering tailored ideas" and "Creating journey," one empty "Setting up recommendations."

Example from

Deepstash

You could experiment with deliberately breaking the Doherty Threshold, e.g., delaying login with an unlocking animation, so the pause frames the action as safer.

Example from

1Password

Possible impacts

Keeping responses under the Doherty Threshold could help reduce churn, as users may tolerate small delays but tend to drop off rapidly once waits drag on.

As seen in:

SmartLife Is this taking too long?

Manus Tiny AI thumbnails

Responding within the Doherty Threshold might help hold users' attention and interest, whereas slow screens or long loaders may let it drift.

As seen in:

Gojek How much luggage can you bring?

Pinterest Pinterest's drag and hold menu

Cutting latency, or explaining long waits, may reduce users' frustration, especially in high-stakes moments like payments, where a slow screen causes worry.

As seen in:

SmartLife Is this taking too long?

Manus Tiny AI thumbnails

Interfaces that respond within the Doherty Threshold could increase users' enjoyment, as each interaction feels quick and responsive rather than sluggish.

As seen in:

Manus Tiny AI thumbnails

Written by Peter Ramsey

Consultant to 100+ companies

Published: 31/08/2023

How to utilise this in your designs

If a device search runs past a few seconds, you could try showing a link to the setup instructions, so a wait beyond the Doherty Threshold offers a way forward.

Example from

SmartLife

While a long AI request runs, you could experiment with showing small live thumbnails of each step, so a wait past the Doherty Threshold feels less idle.

Example from

Manus

When a chart query is slow to load, you could try teaching users ways to speed up their results, so time beyond the Doherty Threshold becomes useful.

Example from

Posthog

During onboarding, you may find that a series of personalised-sounding loading labels builds anticipation, rather than boredom, past the Doherty Threshold.

Example from

Deepstash

You could experiment with deliberately breaking the Doherty Threshold, e.g., delaying login with an unlocking animation, so the pause frames the action as safer.

Example from

1Password

Possible impacts

Keeping responses under the Doherty Threshold could help reduce churn, as users may tolerate small delays but tend to drop off rapidly once waits drag on.

As seen in:

SmartLife Is this taking too long?

Manus Tiny AI thumbnails

Responding within the Doherty Threshold might help hold users' attention and interest, whereas slow screens or long loaders may let it drift.

As seen in:

Gojek How much luggage can you bring?

Pinterest Pinterest's drag and hold menu

Cutting latency, or explaining long waits, may reduce users' frustration, especially in high-stakes moments like payments, where a slow screen causes worry.

As seen in:

SmartLife Is this taking too long?

Manus Tiny AI thumbnails

Interfaces that respond within the Doherty Threshold could increase users' enjoyment, as each interaction feels quick and responsive rather than sluggish.

As seen in:

Manus Tiny AI thumbnails