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from the inward-eye-that-is-the-bliss-of-solitude dept.
People underestimate how enjoyable it is to sit and think:
People consistently underestimate how much they would enjoy spending time alone with their own thoughts, without anything to distract them, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
"Humans have a striking ability to immerse themselves in their own thinking," said study lead author Aya Hatano, PhD, of Kyoto University in Japan. "Our research suggests that individuals have difficulty appreciating just how engaging thinking can be. That could explain why people prefer keeping themselves busy with devices and other distractions, rather than taking a moment for reflection and imagination in daily life."
The researchers found that people enjoyed spending time with their thoughts significantly more than they had predicted. [...]
These results are especially important in our modern era of information overload and constant access to distractions, according to study co-author Kou Murayama, PhD, of the University of Tübingen in Germany. "It's now extremely easy to 'kill time.' On the bus on your way to work, you can check your phone rather than immerse yourself in your internal free-floating thinking, because you predict thinking will be boring," he said. "However, if that prediction is inaccurate, you are missing an opportunity to positively engage yourself without relying on such stimulation."
That missed opportunity comes at a cost because previous studies have shown that spending time letting your mind wander has some benefits, according to the researchers. It can help people solve problems, enhance their creativity and even help them find meaning in life. "By actively avoiding thinking activities, people may miss these important benefits," Murayama said.
Journal Reference:
Aya Hatano, Cansu Ogulmus, Hiroaki Shigemasu, and Kou Murayama, Thinking About Thinking: People Underestimate How Enjoyable and Engaging Just Waiting Is [pdf], J Exp Psychol Gen, 2022. DOI: 10.1037/xge0001255
(Score: 5, Funny) by Captival on Sunday July 31 2022, @06:00PM
he wrote, from his device and published for others to read on their devices.