A study led by Dr. Erik Bijleveld found that it really does hurt to think. After analyzing 170 projects, researchers found that the harder a person had to think about a task, the more unpleasant the experience was. So why do some people still tackle tasks that require cognitive effort? “This should not be taken as an indication that they enjoy mental effort per se,” Dr. Bijleveld said. “Perhaps people choose mentally effortful activities despite the effort, not because of it.” In short, people who engage in hard thinking might not be masochists, but might seek the pleasure of having achieved something. This research suggests that it could be beneficial for bosses to reward employees who engage in cognitively difficult tasks. (Study Finds)
Phone Topic: Which problem-solving activity gives you a headache?