News Psychology

People will take pain over being left alone with their thoughts

Given a choice of electric shocks vs. quiet contemplation, some choose shocks

THINK NOT  People generally dislike and avoid being alone with their thoughts and in a surprising number of cases prefer mild electric shocks to quiet contemplation, a new study finds.

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By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Most people prefer to do just about anything, including give themselves electric shocks, to avoid thinking quietly for a mere 6 to 15 minutes, researchers say.