Menachem M. Kiwak Ph.D, LMHC

Thinking hard can be a real pain. According to a new study, unless there’s a reward involved, people don’t necessarily enjoy mental exertion. Erik Bijleveld, a psychologist and associate professor at Radboud University in the Netherlands, along with his team, has uncovered evidence supporting this idea. This research, published in the American Psychological Association’s monthly journal, Psychological Bulletin, sheds light on why we might avoid thinking too much.

Mental Effort and Discomfort

Bijleveld’s study reveals that mental exertion often leads to irritation, frustration, or other negative feelings. This contradicts the common belief that people enjoy mentally challenging activities. Instead, it seems that unless there’s a clear reward, people tend to avoid these challenges.

“So, it is useful to realize that, when it is really necessary to ask people to exert substantial mental effort, it is best to support or reward them,” Bijleveld said.

The Path of Least Resistance

People often prefer mental shortcuts, such as going with their gut feeling rather than thoroughly analyzing information. This tendency supports the idea that people naturally avoid mental effort whenever possible. Bijleveld’s meta-analysis of 170 studies involving 4,670 participants from 29 countries found that across various tasks and populations, mental effort was consistently associated with unpleasant feelings.

Cultural Differences in Mental Effort

Interestingly, the study found that Asian populations reported slightly less unpleasantness from mental effort compared to their North American and European counterparts. Bijleveld suggests that this could be due to differences in educational systems, where children in countries like China and Japan spend more time on schoolwork from an early age.

“This exposure to mental effort early in life may train people to become more able to withstand higher levels of mental effort later on,” he said, while acknowledging that language differences might also play a role.

Implications and Expert Opinions

The findings have broad implications. Simplifying tasks can help reduce mental strain and improve mood, as noted by Michael Hoerger, an associate professor of psychology at Tulane University. For instance, a well-organized job application that’s easy to read can help a hiring manager maintain a good mood and offer a job.

Stephanie Cox, a professor and clinical psychologist at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute at West Virginia University School of Medicine, points out that avoiding all mentally strenuous activities isn’t advisable. Activities like exercise, though taxing, are valuable and should not be avoided.

David Rosmarin, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, emphasizes the importance of differentiating between mental challenges and serious distress that requires professional help. Pursuing goals and dreams often involves facing and overcoming mental challenges.

“Our culture is simultaneously allergic to aversion,” he said. “But ironically, we pride ourselves on performance and success, which require withstanding adversity and being resilient in the face of stress.”

Conclusion

Bijleveld’s research underscores the reality that thinking hard can indeed feel unpleasant, but with proper support and rewards, people can learn to appreciate the value of mental effort. The study’s findings highlight the need to balance mental challenges with appropriate rewards to encourage positive experiences with mental exertion.

This post is based on research conducted by Erik Bijleveld and his team, published by the American Psychological Association. The original article was written by Susan Kreimer.