Psychology Today
Key takeaways from How Do People Escape the Boredom of Meaninglessness?
Depending on their self-esteem, people cope with meaninglessness differently.
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Boredom often occurs when there is a mismatch between one’s need for arousal and available environmental stimulation.
What is boredom? Boredom often occurs when there is a mismatch between one’s need for arousal and available environmental stimulation. When bored, one feels restless, struggling to pay attention and stay focused. Therefore, boredom often motivates escape from the situation and the pursuit of more interesting activities.
Sometimes the experiences of lack of meaning concern only one’s immediate situation (like a boring movie, a boring book, even a boring day). Other times, the meaninglessness and boredom concern life in general—e.g., how things are versus how they should be, in reference to our ideals and standards. In this second sense, boredom could be functional and adaptive, spurring us to pursue more challenging, stimulating, and meaningful activities in line with personally valued goals.
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