Would you rather zap yourself than sit and think?
Just think: The challenges of the disengaged mind
Many people left alone with their thoughts for 15 minutes chose to give themselves a mild electric shock instead.
Participants were asked to sit alone in a plain room for 6 to 15 minutes with no phone, no book, nothing to do but think. Most said it wasn’t much fun.
In one version they could press a button to give themselves a mild electric shock, one they had earlier said they would pay to avoid. Lots of people pressed it anyway, just for something to do. Boredom is a powerful force.
Anything but sitting quietly with my own brain, please.