The Engaged Mind

Education

Can ChatGPT Get Bored?

James Danckert Ph.D., and John Eastwood, Ph.D. on March 16, 2023

Does ChatGPT know what it means to be bored? Should we even make AI capable of experiencing boredom?

Does ChatGPT know what it means to be bored? Should we even make AI capable of experiencing boredom?

Sex

Why Porn Can't Cure Boredom

James Danckert Ph.D., and John Eastwood, Ph.D. on November 8, 2022

Do you turn to porn merely when you're bored? Recognizing this as passive consumption may help steer you away from boredom in other ways.

Do you turn to porn merely when you're bored? Recognizing this as passive consumption may help steer you away from boredom in other ways.

Personality

Why We Find Some People Boring

James Danckert Ph.D., and John Eastwood, Ph.D. on May 6, 2022

What makes a person boring? And how can we avoid the tag ourselves?

What makes a person boring? And how can we avoid the tag ourselves?

Education

Bored at School

James Danckert Ph.D., and John Eastwood, Ph.D. on October 15, 2021

Are your kids bored with school? Letting them take the lead might help eliminate their ennui.

Are your kids bored with school? Letting them take the lead might help eliminate their ennui.

Anxiety

How to Avoid the Downside of the Internet Rabbit Hole

James Danckert Ph.D., and John Eastwood, Ph.D. on June 8, 2021

Are you worried about your relationship to your phone and social media?

Are you worried about your relationship to your phone and social media?

ADHD

Boredom Could Help You Understand What It's Like to Have ADHD

James Danckert Ph.D., and John Eastwood, Ph.D. on April 24, 2021

Examining our own boredom—the painful feeling of being unable to engage our mind—may boost our empathy for friends and family with the condition.

Examining our own boredom—the painful feeling of being unable to engage our mind—may boost our empathy for friends and family with the condition.

Adolescence

Teenage Boredom in the Pandemic

James Danckert Ph.D., and John Eastwood, Ph.D. on March 22, 2021

Teenage boredom is prevalent at the best of times. Can we help our kids deal better with pandemic boredom?

Teenage boredom is prevalent at the best of times. Can we help our kids deal better with pandemic boredom?

Resilience

Escape the COVID Time Warp by Embracing Today’s Future

James Danckert Ph.D., and John Eastwood, Ph.D. on February 16, 2021

Research suggests why time has slowed during COVID—and what we can do about it.

Research suggests why time has slowed during COVID—and what we can do about it.

Boredom

Boredom in the Pandemic: Living With Lockdown 2.0

James Danckert Ph.D., and John Eastwood, Ph.D. on January 8, 2021

Lockdown 2.0 feels like the worst kind of Groundhog Day. But can we deal with our boredom a little better this time around?

Lockdown 2.0 feels like the worst kind of Groundhog Day. But can we deal with our boredom a little better this time around?

Relationships

Is Relationship Boredom Inevitable During COVID?

James Danckert Ph.D., and John Eastwood, Ph.D. on December 10, 2020

During COVID, our social circles have been drawn tight—often uncomfortably so. But being stuck together doesn’t have to be relationship-destroying.

During COVID, our social circles have been drawn tight—often uncomfortably so. But being stuck together doesn’t have to be relationship-destroying.

Is boredom making it impossible to effectively engage with politics?

Attention

Can You Feel Your Thinking?

James Danckert Ph.D., and John Eastwood, Ph.D. on October 21, 2020

Attention-grabbing machines, and the dark flow they engender, exploit our feelings of thinking without offering back any real meaning or mastery.

Attention-grabbing machines, and the dark flow they engender, exploit our feelings of thinking without offering back any real meaning or mastery.

Career

Why Boring Jobs Demoralize Us, and How to Stay Motivated

James Danckert Ph.D., and John Eastwood, Ph.D. on September 2, 2020

Are we on the verge of an epidemic of bore-out? Will employees begin to use boredom to challenge their employers to craft a more engaging workplace?

Are we on the verge of an epidemic of bore-out? Will employees begin to use boredom to challenge their employers to craft a more engaging workplace?

Education

Learning From Pandemic Boredom

James Danckert Ph.D., and John Eastwood, Ph.D. on July 2, 2020

Boredom has been with us for a while now under COVID-19 lockdown. Have we learned yet how to respond well?

Boredom has been with us for a while now under COVID-19 lockdown. Have we learned yet how to respond well?

Personality

Why Does Boredom Exist?

James Danckert Ph.D., and John Eastwood, Ph.D. on June 1, 2020

Is boredom more than just part of the "furniture of life"?

Is boredom more than just part of the "furniture of life"?