At some point in our lives we have all experienced the feeling of boredom, which is nothing more than a state of mind in which we are dissatisfied, we perceive everything more slowly and things seem very monotonous and gray to us. Furthermore, boredom has been the subject of numerous psychological and psychiatric studies throughout history. In fact, Tolstoy defined it as “a desire to have desires.”
If you want to discover more about this emotional state, in this Psychology-Online article, you will discover what boredom is in psychology, its causes and consequences. Best of all, you will see that not everything related to boredom is negative, since being bored also has its mental and creative benefits.
Is boredom an emotion?
The APA Dictionary of Psychology defines boredom as an emotion that arises from the lack of stimuli present in the environment. It is a condition that is usually associated with sadness and the feeling that we are missing something, although we cannot say for sure what it is.
Normally, it is usually a temporary or momentary state, for example, when we have to wait to be seen at a doctor’s office or wait in line to get into a concert. Even so, it can also become an existential and limiting condition that results in a high level of personal dissatisfaction.
However, you should know that boredom is an emotional state that does not always translate into laziness, but can be essential to cultivate certain abilities inherent in human nature, such as waiting and different daily situations.
Causes of boredom
Boredom is a human emotional response to a perceived lack of engagement with the world, as well as an unpleasant, languid feeling of doing nothing. However, it is not always a situational response, since depends on different factors. Next, we will show you why boredom occurs:
- The subjective scale of personal demands: each person has different motivations, aspirations and situations that keep them on alert. Therefore, the level of boredom varies from person to person.
- Moods, attitudes, desires very challenging and high expectations can also trigger boredom.
- The lack of concentration in daily tasks such as conversation, reading, watching television or working, among other things. If you have trouble concentrating, we recommend this article about .
- Lack of focus to increase attention.
- The mental monotony or an environment that does not meet the expectations we had.
- The need to interact with new stimuli daily: When we are constantly looking for something new and stimulating in our daily lives, it is common for boredom to arise.
Consequences of boredom
What happens when the brain gets bored? The emotional state of boredom can cause different consequences that respond to excessive impulses that harm one’s own interests. Among the main consequences of boredom, the following stand out:
- Feeling that the passage of time is slowing down: It can be accompanied by hostile, irritable and volatile attitudes.
- Constant search for stimuli or new alternatives that are not always beneficial to the individual.
- Ingestion of harmful substances for the body such as drugs, alcohol or eating in abundance to counteract boredom.
- If not handled assertively, it can trigger a acute state of anxiety or depression. If you have any questions, in this article you will see.
Benefits of boredom
Contrary to popular belief, boredom is an emotional state that can benefit us in many ways. We show you how below:
- It’s a reflective element that allows you to analyze reality just as it is. It acts as an indicator for you to reflect on what you should change when you are bored.
- A bored person can become have the best ideas, as well as the most creative ones. This occurs because constructive thinking is activated, which gives way to reflection.
- Boredom is a excellent condition to evaluate productivity staff. It allows us to analyze if we are wasting time on tasks that do not benefit us.
- From a pedagogical point of view, monotony is essential for children to discover what motivates them and it entertains them. Undoubtedly, if managed effectively, boredom becomes an excellent catalyst.
Above all, it is important to learn to manage boredom to change our focus towards other more stimulating aspects that give us greater benefits on a personal and professional level.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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References
- APA Dictionary of Psychology (2020). Definition of boredom. https://dictionary.apa.org/boredom
Bibliography
- Ahmed, S.M.S. (1990). Psychometric properties of the boredom proneness scale. Perception. Acuity. Skills 71, 963–966. doi:10.2466/pms.1990.71.3.963
- Anton, MC (2012). Boredom. Perspectives in Psychology, 9(3), 104-109. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=5113946