Idleness Aversion
The finding that people dislike being idle but need a justification to be busy.
What it is
Hsee, Yang and Wang reported in two experiments that people given no justification preferred idleness, while even a flimsy justification was enough to keep them occupied. The authors suggest that many goals people believe they pursue may serve mainly as justifications for staying busy.
In effect
The article on why doing nothing is suddenly popular uses it to explain why a named practice with a stated reason can make idleness acceptable.
What it does not say
The two experiments used short tasks with small rewards, and they do not say how people choose between rest and work in daily life. They do not say that being busy is better or worse than being idle.
Sources
- Hsee, C. K., Yang, A. X., & Wang, L. (2010). Idleness aversion and the need for justifiable busyness. Psychological Science, 21(7), 926-930.