Technology, Boredom and the Need for Stimulation

Boredom is universal; we all feel it. It usually compels us to engage in activities to avoid the feeling. These activities could range from simple ones like watching a movie to dangerous ones such as drug use. But how far would you go to remove boredom? Well according to research conducted by a Malaysian University, you might electrocute yourself. 

In the study, participants were placed in sparsely furnished rooms, asked to put away their belongings, and then given a 6 to 15-minute test. Some were told to think freely, while others chose prompts to plan their thoughts. Afterward, they rated their experience on a nine-point scale. About 50% found the experience unenjoyable, with many reporting high levels of boredom. When allowed to do the study at home, the results were similar, with participants preferring activities like reading or listening to music over just thinking. The researchers then took the experiment further by leaving participants alone in a lab room for 15 minutes with the option to electrocute themselves. Despite earlier stating they would pay to avoid electric shocks, 67% of men and 25% of women chose to shock themselves rather than sit quietly and think.