#Solitude

A recent psychological study has sparked international debate after researchers found that a surprising number of men would rather subject themselves to an electric shock than spend time alone simply thinking. The findings, which have made headlines globally, challenge long-held assumptions about the human mind’s relationship with solitude and the discomfort that can arise from being alone with one’s thoughts.

In the study, conducted at a leading university and summarized widely in scientific news reports, participants were asked to sit alone in a room with no distractions—no phones, books, or even paper—for a period of 6 to 15 minutes. They were instructed to occupy the time with their own thoughts. Unbeknownst to them, the room also contained a button that, if pressed, would deliver a mild but noticeably unpleasant electric shock. While many participants chose to simply sit quietly and think, a significant number of male participants opted to give themselves one or more electric shocks rather than endure “just thinking” in solitude. This unexpected behavior, highlighted in multiple psychological journals and recapped by VegOutMag, underscores the degree of discomfort that some individuals experience when left entirely alone with their own minds.

A provocative new wave of research is challenging a long-standing assumption: that living without friends is synonymous with loneliness and emotional distress. In a world shaped by social media, “connection” is celebrated as vital for human happiness, yet a recent study published in the Canadian Review of Sociology reveals a far more nuanced reality—some people with few or no friends are, in fact, content, even thriving in their solitude. This finding, highlighted by Psychology Today and echoed in multiple news reports and scholarly discussions, encourages Thai readers to critically reconsider both personal and cultural beliefs about friendship and fulfillment (Psychology Today; Wiley; CTV News Atlantic).