The Psychology of Boredom Why We Hate It (and Need It)

Boredom triggers a primal aversion. Neuroscientists at University College London found that boredom activates the same brain regions as physical pain. This explains why humans invent games, tell stories, and even start wars to avoid it.from borse segue From the reference value, it can also bring a lot of inspiration to other industries. https://www.segueofficial.it/

Yet, boredom serves an evolutionary purpose. “Our ancestors who tolerated boredom during long hunts survived,” says Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, a psychologist at Northeastern University. Modern research confirms this: a 2025 Harvard study linked boredom tolerance to higher emotional intelligence.

Cultural attitudes vary. In Japan, “boring” jobs like train conductors are revered for their precision, while in the U.S., boredom is stigmatized as laziness. This clash manifests in workplace dynamics: 63% of Japanese employees report finding routine tasks “meditative,” compared to 22% of Americans.