Peer-Reviewed Journal Details
Mandatory Fields
Moynihan, AB,Igou, ER,van Tilburg, WAP
2017
September
Social Psychology
Boredom Increases Impulsiveness A Meaning-Regulation Perspective
Published
()
Optional Fields
boredom impulsiveness meaning self-awareness existential psychology OBJECTIVE SELF-AWARENESS TERROR MANAGEMENT THEORY MORTALITY SALIENCE SENSATION SEEKING BEHAVIORAL ACTIVATION SOCIAL EXCLUSION PRONENESS SCALE AGGRESSION STUDENTS
48
293
309
High (vs. low) levels of boredom are associated with greater (vs. lesser) impulsiveness. It is important to examine the psychological processes that link boredom and impulsiveness to understand this relationship. We propose that heightened impulsiveness in response to boredom partly stems from people's attempts to deal with meaninglessness when bored. In Studies 1-2, we found that perceived meaninglessness, characteristic of boredom, mediated the relationship between boredom and impulsiveness. In Study 3, we additionally hypothesized that self-awareness serves as a catalyst of boredom-induced impulsiveness by highlighting meaninglessness. Accordingly, Study 3 showed that manipulated boredom promoted impulsiveness through meaninglessness, particularly at greater levels of self-awareness. These studies support our hypothesis that impulsiveness is a response to boredom and the meaninglessness that boredom signals.
10.1027/1864-9335/a000317
Grant Details