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Mental exertion leads to irritation, frustration or other negative feelings in many situations, supporting the concept that it hurts to think, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association. The study, conducted by Radboud University in the Netherlands, appeared Monday in the association's monthly journal, Psychological Bulletin. Managers and educators frequently encourage individuals to exert mental effort, prompting them to often choose mentally challenging activities. While this may indicate that people tend to enjoy thinking hard, the new study suggests the opposite, senior author Erik Bijleveld, a psychologist and associate professor at Radboud University, told UPI via email. Earlier studies indicate that people who can choose between two activities are more likely to opt for the one that requires less effort, he noted, adding, "In short, we know, generally, people prefer the path of least resistance, also mentally. So, it may well be true that people dislike mental effort."
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