The impact of feeling bored

• Author: Raluca Tarbasan
• Position: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University
• Pages: 289-294

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşo v

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 12(61) No. 2 – 2019

https://doi.org/10.31926/but.ssl.2019.12.61.2.12

THE IMPACT OF FEELING BORED1

Raluca TĂRBĂȘAN2

Abstract: The scientific interest for boredom has increased lately due to its

impact upon everyday life. The present study investigates the relationship

between boredom proneness and impulsivity upon alcohol consumption. A

total number of 180 students responded to 3 questionnaires measuring

proneness for boredom, impulsivity and alcohol consumption. Results

showed that subjects that feel bored easily are prone to alcohol consumption

as well as those who are impulsive. The interaction between these two

features upon alcohol consumption could not be proven.

Key words: boredom, impulsivity, alcohol consumption, maladaptive

behaviour.

1. Introduction

1.1. A history of boredom

The concept of boredom has been a point of interest for philosophers even since

ancient times. Christians considered that boredom is a sin, being called dryness of the

soul, complete paralyzing of will, inexplicable grief, laziness (Kuhn, 1976 cit. in Martin,

2006). Starting with the XVIIᵗʰ century, it began to be used by French writers, Voltarie

himself declared in 1764 that "boredom is the worst of all conditions” (Kuhn, 1976 cit. in

Martin, 2006). Among the authors that wrote about this subject we recall Baudelaire,

Byron, Durkheim, Kierkegaard, Dostoievsky, Tolstoi, Nietzche, Schopenhauer, Ibsen,

Flaubert, Verlaine. In the XIXᵗʰ century the general opinion upon boredom can be

synthetized by Kierkegaard words: “almost half of the world’s sins are made by fear of

boredom” (Kuhn, 1976 cit. in Martin, 2006).

Moving forward towards time, in the XXᵗʰ century, nothing changes regarding how this

affective state is seen. Nowadays, it is considered that boredom is a consequence of

overstimulation and not of monotony as it has been thought until now . According to

Klapp (1986, cit in Martin, 2006) feeling bored appears in highly developed societies.

Although, nowadays people h ave access to many more interesting and entertaining

activities, the discomfort caused by boredom is visible.

1 Paper presented at the Internatio nal Conference “Psychology, Education and Human Develo pment”,

Brașov, 23-25 May 2019

2 Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iași, raluca.rotariu90@yahoo.com