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.
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.
Same here, thinking time is good time.
Which probably is much why so many people are screwed up.
Personally, I put a high value to my alone time and thinking.
I always try to find quiet times to sit and think. It’s easy to observe that people hate to think. Just look at them.
I would love to be alone with no talking or other distractions. When I’m alone now them other voices are real distracting.
Have always enjoyed dinner out by myself.
That said, I have never tried this electric shock. Might be more fun than I realized.
Pansies read New York Magazine
He has this backwards. The obsessive phone-checking has conditioned people to be stimulated at all times. The anxiety they feel while alone is a result of the brain looking for the next "hit".
The conscience will get you every time unless you’re mentally ill. Knowing Christ is the antidote to anxiety when alone. In fact, you’ll seek out quiet and isolation just to be with God and your thoughts.
It’s a pity that man, created by God, knows neither himself or his Maker.
I would rather give myself an electric shock than read New York Magazine.
I was forced to have a lot of alone time My younger daughter died in 2004 and 2 years later my husband died. I really learned who were my friends and who were not. Frankly, I had rather be alone than be with fakes. I am doing fine with God’s help.
not me. don’t know where they dug up these “guys”.
it’s just so funny that so many people can’t be by themselves. i have always been introverted and individualistic. i prefer it. i like being around people but on my terms. otherwise i’m not.
Bizarre. Some time alone with your own thoughts in this increasingly intrusive world is a luxury.
I like to do both.
Memories of the times you had
That’s the way you see yourself
You fight for your rights
You fight to survive
You come into this world
With nothing except yourself
You, you leave this world
With nothing except yourself
Do what you want
And how you want it
Feel it’s right, go out and do it
Think for yourself
And think for the best
Or you’ll go down just like the rest
You come into this world
With nothing except yourself
You, you leave this world
With nothing except yourself
“Some” people.
As for myself I literally hate the idea of not having some time every day to be alone with my thoughts. These other people probably have bad consciences or under-developed brains and imaginations. Thinking is fun.
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