Seeking Equilibrium

Time outs and incarceration are widely used tools for behavioral control that employ imposed boredom as a critical ingredient. Imposed boredom invariably alter's an individual's relationship to social and personal risk and can either enhance or diminish pro-social decision making. Feelings of imposed boredom probably also occur in economically impoverished environments.

The most effective way that a social network can help someone stay sober is to become interested in their boredom.

Self-Control

Recovery from Boredom

McWelling Todman Ph.D. on July 5, 2012

The biggest open secret about being an addict is that treatment and early recovery is invariably experienced as a choice between dying from boredom and dying from alcohol or drugs. Many addicts repeatedly vote for the latter.

The biggest open secret about being an addict is that treatment and early recovery is invariably experienced as a choice between dying from boredom and dying from alcohol or drugs. Many addicts repeatedly vote for the latter.

Like it or not, recreational substance use has been with us throughout human history and is here to stay, so why not put science to work in developing better and safer recreational drugs.

Addictive behavior is a pretty good social adhesive until it is not. Can't live with it and can't live without it.