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Why do we get bored?

Marnie Chesterton finds out why boredom affects some people more than others and why it can lead to innovation and discovery.

鈥淚鈥檓 bored!鈥 We can all relate to the uncomfortable - and at times unbearable - feeling of boredom. But what is it? Why does it happen? And could this frustrating, thumb-twiddling experience actually serve some evolutionary purpose?

CrowdScience listener Brian started wondering this over a particularly uninspiring bowl of washing up and it鈥檚 ended with presenter Marnie Chesterton going on a blessedly un-boring tour through the science and psychology of tedium.

She finds out why some people are more affected than others, why boredom is the key to discovery and innovation and how we can all start improving our lives by embracing those mind-numbing moments.

(Photo: Bored kids on a park bench. Credit: Getty Images)

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton
Producer: Samara Linton
Production co-ordinator: Jonathan Harris
Editor: Richard Collings

Contributors:
Professor James Danckert, University of Waterloo, Canada
Dr Elizabeth Weybright, Washington State University
Dr Christian Chan, Hong Kong University
Annie Runkel, University of Dundee

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Mon 24 Jul 2023 19:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 21 Jul 2023 19:32GMT
  • Mon 24 Jul 2023 01:32GMT
  • Mon 24 Jul 2023 04:32GMT
  • Mon 24 Jul 2023 08:32GMT
  • Mon 24 Jul 2023 12:32GMT
  • Mon 24 Jul 2023 19:32GMT

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