Citation

Barbalet JM. Br. J. Sociol. 1999; 50(4): 631-646.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, London School of Economics and Political Science, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1468-4446.1999.00631.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Meaning is necessary in social processes. An absence of meaning in an activity or circumstance leads to an experience of boredom. This is a restless, irritable feeling that the subject's current activity or situation holds no appeal, and that there is a need to get on with something interesting. Thus boredom emotionally registers an absence of meaning and leads the actor in question towards meaning. Boredom, then, is central to key social processes centered on questions of mean-ingfulness. Given the pervasive preconditions for boredom, release from boredom is a factor that explains characteristic social practices, including risk taking and intergroup conflict.

Keywords

Boredom; conflict; emotions; explanation; meaning; risk