Which is better, being shocked or being solitary? ”The researchers then decided to take the experiment a step further. For 15 minutes, the team left participants alone in a lab room in which they could push a button and shock themselves if they wanted to. The results were startling: Even though all participants had previously stated that they would pay money to avoid being shocked with electricity, 67% of men and 25% of women chose to inflict it on themselves rather than just sit there quietly and think, and one guy shocked himself 109 times in 15 minutes, the team reports online today in Science. I found it quite surprising and a bit disheartening that people seem to be so uncomfortable when left to their own devices; that they can be so bored that even being shocked seemed more entertaining,” says Jonathan Schooler, a psychology professor at UC Santa Barbara who studies consciousness. “But I can't help but feel that there has to be more to the story. I'm confident that there are conditions in which at least a sub-sample of the population enjoys this quiet opportunity for self-reflection.”
[sciencemag.org]
3
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7 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I would imagine that the electrical shock was unpleasant but far from dangerous. I would think that taking this into consideration that many people would shock themselves at least once just for the novelty of it. Also, boredom is a motivator to do silly things.
Charles1971
Level 7
June 9, 2021
1
But 109 times?
Wow... only 15 minutes...
That suggests more people don't know the authentic way to meditate.
AnonySchmoose
Level 8
June 9, 2021
1
Funny, I was thinking of that. I do a mindfulness meditation for 17 minutes each morning and don't even need a shock to get started. LOL
@JackPedigo
I meant real meditation, not what corporations are pushing on their overworked employees.
@AnonySchmoose Not sure how to take that. Yes, I know some corporations have team sessions (when I was working mine was focusing on profit). Now I focus on things I want to improve in myself.
@JackPedigo
"Corporations Are Trying to Co-opt Mindfulness to Avoid Meeting Workers’ Needs."
The article is eye-opening even though it is a leftist source and might be biased.
[truthout.org]
@AnonySchmoose So first push the body to an extreme then push programs for the mind to relieve the strain. Sounds like our wonderful technology depends on human labor to work. 12 hours, what happened to the 8 hour workday? When I was working the 'professional' staff (CPA's) had similar stresses but it was known as charge time. They were pushed to maximize their charge time and even going to the toilet to take some clients paperwork with them so as to even be able to charge that time. Problem was everyone was competing with each other and the ones with the lowest charge times were let go. I wonder if this company has since initiated a mindfulness program. Would not be surprised.
My question is how many of us would tolerate such a workday? More and more of these types of jobs go to desperate people who are often illegal immigrants. The book "Every 12 Seconds" show that most of the labor in the slaughter houses go to Latinos.
Shock therapy would provide relief from depression. It seems that if one can get past the pain of the shock, they may be getting some pleasure. The shock may depolarize neurons and allow the release of anti-depressive neurotransmitters. Also, the shocks may induce the release of endorphins like getting a runner's high without the strenuous effort.
racocn8
Level 9
June 9, 2021
1
Once again, this proves to me that kids who grow up in the country are better prepared for life. Shocking yourself on the electric cattle fence was one of our 'rites of passage.'. Boys used to hold pissing contests against the electric fences. That resulted in embarrassing talks with the farmer's wife, Frau Schmietenknoop and assorted parents and sons.
Spinliesel
Level 9
June 9, 2021
3
Did they allow the participants 2-3 tries to satisfy their curiosity Beforehand? If not, the results are Highly suspect!
AnneWimsey
Level 9
June 9, 2021
0
I just gave a short excerpt from the research. Yes, the participants did try this beforehand hence the part about paying money to avoid being shocked.
i think i might try it. in small doses electricity is an interesting sensation. ever shock yourself mildly with a dog collar?
hankster
Level 9
June 9, 2021
1
I've seen that on some videos of crazy things people do.
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