For many adults, dinner no longer starts with food. It starts with a remote control. They sit down with a meal, turn on the television and open a streaming app. Then something interesting happens. Five minutes pass. Ten minutes pass. They scroll endlessly through dozens of options but still cannot decide what to watch. Sometimes the meal is finished before they even choose something. At first glance, this may seem silly or indecisive. But psychology suggests something much deeper is happening. People are often not looking for entertainment. They are looking for emotional comfort after a mentally exhausting day. Several psychological theories help explain why this habit has become increasingly common.
