Behind the Brilliance 218 Dr. Erin Westgate on How to Create a Psychologically Rich Life
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Mar 17, 2022 AI Snips
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Erin's Start in Boredom Research
- Dr. Erin Westgate discovered her interest in boredom research through surprising lab results revealing people shocking themselves to avoid thinking boredom.
- This led her to study boredom scientifically, understanding why people struggle to enjoy their own thoughts.
Boredom Signals Engagement Levels
- Boredom is often misunderstood as a personal flaw or simple understimulation, but it actually signals a lack of meaningful engagement.
- Activities can be boring if they're too easy or too hard, which explains why some find challenging tasks tedious.
Introversion Shapes Boredom Experience
- Introverts and extroverts are equally prone to boredom, but differ in what they find meaningful and stimulating.
- Understanding these differences helps explain why social interaction or solitary tasks feel engaging or boring to different people.