In 2014, psychologists at the University of Virginia placed participants alone in a plain room for 15 minutes. They had no phones, pens, or reading materials. The only object in the room was a small device that delivered a mild electric shock when a button was pressed. Before entering, every participant had said they would pay money to avoid being shocked. Yet, with no outside distractions, 67 per cent of the men and 25 per cent of the women chose to shock themselves instead of sitting quietly with their own thoughts. One participant pressed the button 190 times.
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