Boredom: Exploring the Intersection with Curiosity

Boredom and curiosity share a common push to explore the world. Boredom is an aversive state and people have a tendency to complain about being bored. Researchers have found that boredom can lead to impulsive behavior and the need to find something to alleviate the inner tension. Unlike curiosity, boredom lacks a specific object or objective to direct attention towards. In contrast, curiosity arises from a desire to fill knowledge gaps or seek new experiences. Boredom is a call to action with no immediate outlet, while curiosity leads to engagement and exploration.