Is boredom one or many? A functional solution to the problem of heterogeneity. (20th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Elpidorou, Andreas
• Is Part Of: Mind & language. Volume 36:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 491
• Page End: 511
• Publication Date: 2020-03-20
• Subjects: ANS -- arousal -- boredom -- emotion -- function; Psycholinguistics -- Periodicals; Thought and thinking -- Periodicals; Language and languages -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; 153.42
• DOI: 10.1111/mila.12282
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-1064

Abstract

Abstract : Despite great progress in our theoretical and empirical investigations of boredom, a basic issue regarding boredom remains unresolved: It is still unclear whether the construct of boredom is a unitary one or not. By surveying the relevant literature on boredom and arousal, the paper makes a case for the unity of the construct of boredom. It argues, first, that extant empirical findings do not support the heterogeneity of boredom, and, second, that a theoretically motivated and empirically grounded model of boredom (the functional account) supports the view that the construct of boredom is a unitary one.