"To what purpose are powers limited, and to what purpose is that limitation committed to writing,
if these limits may, at any time, be passed by those intended to be restrained?"
-- Chief Justice John Marshall, Marbury v. Madison, 1803

Decisions, Decisions

by West Virginia Rebel

The science of being lazy explained:

...it’s long been recognized that strenuous cognitive tasks—such as taking the SAT—can make it harder to focus later on. But recent results suggests that these taxing mental activities may be much broader in scope-and may even involve the very common activity of making choices itself. In a series of experiments and field studies, University of Minnesota psychologist Kathleen Vohs and colleagues repeatedly demonstrate that the mere act of making a selection may deplete executive resources. For example, in one study the researchers found that participants who made more choices in a mall were less likely to persist and do well in solving simple algebra problems. In another task in the same study, students who had to mark preferences about the courses they would take to satisfy their degree requirements were much more likely to procrastinate on preparing for an important test. Instead of studying, these “tired” minds engaged in distracting leisure activities.

Thinking hurts, as some college students apparently demonstrate on a daily basis.

Comments

Posted by on 07/23/08 at 08:07 PM from

Thinking hurts, as some college students apparently demonstrate on a daily basis.

Considering all the self-medication, from meth to booze to pot, that many of America’s Brightest partake of on a regular basis, you’d think that would be enough to dull the pain.

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