Posted on 07/03/2014 3:25:18 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Most people don’t think it’s fun to sit alone with nothing to do but think — it’s part of the reason for obsessive phone-checking during idle moments. A new study in Science highlights just how unenjoyable this experience is: in short, very. To the point that some people will choose to shock themselves rather than sit alone with nothing to do for a little while.
The researchers conducted 11 experiments in a variety of settings and among a variety of age groups. In most of them, subjects were asked to simply chill out and think for 6 to 15 minutes — no phone, no book, no nothing — and then rate the experience. The participants found it very hard to do so, with rather high percentages saying it was unenjoyable and that they found their minds wandering in a distracting way. And when one group in one experiment was offered entertainment like listening to music or surfing the web, they reported that that was much more enjoyable than being alone with their thoughts.
Maybe not too, too surprising. But one of the experiments really upped the ante in a — sorry — shocking way.
In that one, participants were asked to rate the pleasantness or unpleasantness of a number of stimuli, including an electric shock, and then asked how much of $5 they’d pay to experience or not experience each of them again. Then, they were asked to sit alone with their thoughts, but told that if they wanted to, they could shock themselves by pressing a button (because why not?).
Among the participants who said they’d pay to avoid being shocked again (meaning those who found it particularly unpleasant), 67 percent of men and 25 percent of women nonetheless shocked themselves rather than face, without distraction, what is apparently a terrifying hellscape inside their heads. The researchers suggest the gender difference could come down to men having greater sensation-seeking tendencies than women — that is, they get bored more easily.
These studies, the researchers write, can help explain why some people seek out mindfulness training — simply to make idle moments, which are inevitable, less difficult, and less likely to lead to unpleasant ruminating or self-criticism.
“Without such training,” they write, “people prefer doing to thinking, even if what they are doing is so unpleasant that they would normally pay to avoid it. The untutored mind does not like to be alone with itself.” Amen.
Well, liberal men, certainly. In fact the electric shocks might be more productive.
Many Americans are so addicted to external stimulation that they can’t be alone with themselves for five minutes. This is not a new problem - it worsened with the advent of television then the Internet led to a real explosion.
Sounds like Myers-Briggs INTJs were WAY underrepresented...
I love being alone with my thoughts. Other people are just annoying.
I’ve always been an introverted loner.
I feel free when I’m alone.
Same here.
I put a very high price on peace, quiet, and some solitude.
Wrong choice offered. This is better: Be alone with your thoughts, or watch Moochelle “Let’s Move” videos. Hell of a lot of men would be alone with their thoughts.
...and I prefer bamboo shoots to the New Yorker Magazine...
On what planet is this???
May God bless you and grant you peace.
Personally I like sitting and thinking. What I hate is when the Little Crazy Woman asks me what I’m thinking about.
Maybe they’re speaking of Libtard men. There’s not much in the way of grey matter to hold much, and what it does hold is usually pretty sick.
Electric shock treatment is exactly what they need.
Yup. First thing, I looked for the word “study”. That told me that this is nothing but bullfeathers.
Be alone with your thoughts...or listen to Hillary’s cackle on an endless loop.
“Boots, boots, movin’ up an’ down again...”
exactly. I do as well and even though I am an extrovert and enjoy people and love being in action, I really enjoy just being and also just thinking. An activity that would certainly serve many people especially in this day and age. Sadly people are like cattle.
“That’s weird. I like to be alone with my thoughts. In fact tomorrow, I’m spending the entire morning at the beach - by myself.”
Sounds wonderful. After years of practice I’m not bad socially, but it takes energy from me to be ‘on’ in that context. On the other hand, having time to think and reflect, and to be private, recharges me.
I hope you have nice whether at the beach.
That’s the difference between sheeple with the herding instinct, and intelligent, independent thinkers.
Heh! Not this guy!
My thoughts have been filled with all sorts of fun and interesting things like.....
What foregrip should I put on my AR-15?
Should I go 18 or 20 inches on the barrel length?
Should I use a basic bolt or the new Relia-Bolt?
Will a good MagPul stock be worth it?
Which armorer’s wrench should I get?
Etc....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.