> One person pressed the button 190 times. New study finds researchers trolled by subjects.
New study found short-circuits in study test materials.
Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves
21–30 of 82 posts
Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves
#22I get the point that people may prefer external stimulation to internal thoughts. But I think the result of this study hinge on whether the electric shock was really all that unpleasant. For safety reasons, I'll assume the shock wasn't large enough to be harmful or create anything but a momentary sensation. People are curious, and it would seem a fairly safe environment. What's to stop them from simply experimenting…
I absolutely would prefer pain to boredom. I'm not afraid of being alone with my thoughts, but I am terrified of boredom.
With the shock, I can totally see myself locked in a room with the device and trying to see if I could condition myself to not react to the shock. As long as I had some sense of safety (they have a doctor and some paddles on hand) I would take days seeing how far I could push myself.
And to be clear, I hate pain. But I love to conquer that which would make me weak.
Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves
#23Think about the deeper implications of the experiment. Yes, people will shock themselves when there's nothing to do. However, that also means that when there's nothing to do, the majority of people will try to physically stimulate themselves because that's all there is TO do. To say that we're stupid because we would administer a painful shock to ourselves rather than sit in our own silence for 15 minutes is a very n…
Indeed, "physically stimulate themselves", in every sense of that phrase. :-)
Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves
#24I get the point that people may prefer external stimulation to internal thoughts. But I think the result of this study hinge on whether the electric shock was really all that unpleasant. For safety reasons, I'll assume the shock wasn't large enough to be harmful or create anything but a momentary sensation. People are curious, and it would seem a fairly safe environment. What's to stop them from simply experimenting…
I've shocked myself badly a few times and to me at least, I'd much rather wallow in self pity for a while than do it again. Probably the worst was one I didn't expect, I slipped when opening a plastic case and caught my fingers over a fully charged high capacity 350v capacitor. The initial hit makes every muscle in your body hurt, then a wave of panic when you realize you could have died from the moment of stupidity.
Putting your hand across phases on a 415V industrial supply will do that as well (which should never have happened but that is why we have training to show people how not to make other peoples fuckups) fortunately I was wearing heavy rubber boots and the contact was momentary.
Lesson of the day when your co-worker/trainee/friend says the supply is isolated...check anyway.
Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves
#25This seems like a poor study to gauge peoples' desire/aversion to thinking. You put me in a room with nothing but a button I'll probably press it out of curiosity. Put me in a garden with a enjoyable drink and I'll happily contemplate whatever comes to mind until I want to get a refill.
You didn't read the article.
It says they shocked the participants before the study started so the curiosity factor was not present.
Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves
#26Looks like time alone with thoughts is ready to be disrupted.
Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves
#27This is sad and a bit disturbing because it suggests that average people seem to dislike thinking . I'm quite the opposite, and 15 minutes of pure thinking for me would pass by quite easily - I feel like I can't get enough time to think more carefully about all the ideas that I have for the things I do, or want to. Then again, I'm introverted and definitely not representative of the average population. (Of course, I'…
I read somewhere that they used device with 9V battery. We used to lick both 4.5V and 9V batteries as kids. I found 4.5V hit to be quite pleasant and I would repeat the "experiment" a lot. Licking 9V battery was less pleasant, but not really too uncomfortable. I did that multiple times too even through my room was full of toys. Their device could generate less pleasant feelings, sure. But I am kind of skeptical of bi…
I don't think you can conclude too much from it being a 9V battery. It depends how it is connected up. The shock from an implantable cardio defibrillator which comes from a small lithium battery hurts more than 240V through your fingers.
Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves
#28This seems like a poor study to gauge peoples' desire/aversion to thinking. You put me in a room with nothing but a button I'll probably press it out of curiosity. Put me in a garden with a enjoyable drink and I'll happily contemplate whatever comes to mind until I want to get a refill.
You didn't read the article. It says they shocked the participants before the study started so the curiosity factor was not present.
The article says they exposed people to the shocks and other stimuli to get a response to the 5$ question. It doesn't say they took the people and gave them 15 minutes to play around with the thing. Curiosity is still very much in the game, especially when there's nothing else to do.
A much more meaningful way to do this experiment would've been to have people sit and receive regular shocks (not under their own control), and to sit with nothing else to do, provide an incentive for staying 15 minutes and see how quickly they give up.
And while i'm writing: The article also mentions they couldn't find people who enjoy the time alone, but didn't mention whether they asked people who habitually medidate.
Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves
#29I get the point that people may prefer external stimulation to internal thoughts. But I think the result of this study hinge on whether the electric shock was really all that unpleasant. For safety reasons, I'll assume the shock wasn't large enough to be harmful or create anything but a momentary sensation. People are curious, and it would seem a fairly safe environment. What's to stop them from simply experimenting…
I absolutely would prefer pain to boredom. I'm not afraid of being alone with my thoughts, but I am terrified of boredom. With the shock, I can totally see myself locked in a room with the device and trying to see if I could condition myself to not react to the shock. As long as I had some sense of safety (they have a doctor and some paddles on hand) I would take days seeing how far I could push myself. And to be cle…
You should pick up a book on medidating, or maybe find some kind of mental hobby. For example designing programs in my head when i'm not at a computer, or reciting kanji shapes i'm learning along with their meanings and readings in my head, are productive uses of time that would otherwise be boring.
Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
"""I get the point that people may prefer external stimulation to internal thoughts. But I think the result of this study hinge on whether the electric shock was really all that unpleasant.""" All of these is beside the point. An electric shock, mild, even pleasant is a BS diversion. People prefered BS diversion (could be even clicking a button that did nothing at all) that spending a few minutes with their thoughts.…
Unless the 190 buzz guy was the norm, those people spent a lot of time not hitting themselves. Anyone who hit himself once did spent time thinking, then pressed button and then spent another time thinking. The other thing is, I love spending time with thinking when I choose to and have something interesting to thing about. It does not mean that I will contemplate something cool at every random void moment or never ge…
I tend to agree there's not a lot to see here. But the headline reminded me of this:
http://partiallyclips.com/2005/09/08/hell/
Time alone with your thoughts doesn't have to be a good thing.