Scientific investigation has reveleaed that some people would prefer to give themselves an electric shock rather than be left alone with their thoughts, perhaps confirming the long-held belief that humans are wired to seek frequent or constant engagment.
In a series of 11 studies researchers found most participants did not enjoy spending even short periods of time alone in a room with nothing to do but think, the University of Virginia reported. Some of the participants even preferred to give themselves an electric shock over thinking. '
The research will be published July 4 in the journal Science.
"Those of us who enjoy some down time to just think likely find the results of this study surprising - I certainly do - but our study participants consistently demonstrated that they would rather have something to do than to have nothing other than their thoughts for even a fairly brief period of time," U.Va. Psychologist Timothy Wilson said.
In the study the researchers asked participants to be alone with their thoughts for between six and 15 minutes. Most of the participants, who ranged between the ages of 18 and 77, reported the thinking period was not enjoyable.
"That was surprising - that even older people did not show any particular fondness for being alone thinking," Wilson said.
The researcher noted broad studies have revealed people generally prefer not to disengage from the world, and when they do they don't enjoy it.
"We found that about a third admitted that they had 'cheated' at home by engaging in some activity, such as listening to music or using a cell phone, or leaving their chair," Wilson said. "And they didn't enjoy this experience any more at home than at the lab."
In another experiment participants were randomly assigned to be either alone with their thoughts or participate in an external activity but were not allowed to communicate with others. Those who did the external activity reported they had enjoyed themselves much more than those who did not.
Addditional participants were given the option to jolt themselves with a mild electric shock by pushing a button. Twelve of the 18 men in the study gave themselves at least one shock during the "thinking period"; six of the 24 females pressed the button.
"What is striking," the investigators wrote, "is that simply being alone with their own thoughts for 15 minutes was apparently so aversive that it drove many participants to self-administer an electric shock that they had earlier said they would pay to avoid."
"The mind is designed to engage with the world," Wilson said. "Even when we are by ourselves, our focus usually is on the outside world. And without training in meditation or thought-control techniques, which still are difficult, most people would prefer to engage in external activities.
