99% Invisible The Natural Experiment
May 6, 2020
Yijin Lin, a doctoral student under Erin Westgate, explores the intriguing landscape of boredom during the COVID-19 quarantine. She discusses how the pandemic has disrupted traditional research, yet provided a unique opportunity to study boredom's psychological complexities. The conversation dives into people's extreme reactions to boredom, its cultural nuances, and its impact on mental health. Additionally, insights on navigating family life amidst public health challenges offer a relatable angle, as Lin sheds light on social dynamics in these unprecedented times.
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Defining Boredom
- Boredom is considered a real emotion signaling a need for change.
- There are two models of boredom, attentional (lack of stimulation) and meaning-based (lack of purpose), and languages define it differently.
Quarantine Boredom
- Quarantine provides a unique opportunity to study boredom in the real world due to increased boredom levels.
- Researchers can now observe reactions and choices made in response to sustained boredom.
Vaccine Reflection
- Delaney Hall noticed a Facebook post highlighting the pandemic as an example of life without vaccines.
- This sparked her interest in how the pandemic might shift attitudes towards vaccination.