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What makes thinking for pleasure pleasurable?
Erin C Westgate1, Timothy D Wilson2, Nicholas R Buttrick2
1Department of Psychology, University of Florida.
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|March 4, 2021
Summary
People often avoid thinking for pleasure, finding it boring. Providing specific, positive, and meaningful topics enhances the enjoyment of thinking, making it a more pleasant solitary activity.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Individuals often do not spontaneously engage in thinking for pleasure.
- When directed to think for pleasure, people struggle with concentration and find it unenjoyable compared to other solitary activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether people know how to think for pleasure.
- To determine if providing specific meaningful topics can improve the experience of thinking for pleasure.
Main Methods:
- Two preregistered studies were conducted.
- Study 1 provided specific examples of meaningful topics for participants to consider.
- Study 2 instructed participants to think about "meaningful" thoughts versus pleasurable ones.
Main Results:
- Providing specific examples of meaningful topics increased the perceived meaningfulness and enjoyment of thinking for pleasure (Study 1).
- Instructing participants to think "meaningful" thoughts did not enhance enjoyment, as some considered negative topics (Study 2).
Conclusions:
- To make thinking for pleasure enjoyable, individuals need to focus on topics that are both meaningful and positive.
- Guidance on selecting appropriate topics is crucial for improving the experience of solitary thought.
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