With plans cancelled and people stuck indoors, lockdown has left many feeling bored. Canvas8 spoke to Dr. John Eastwood and Andrew Hunter, who research the psychology of boredom at Toronto’s York University, to better understand why people become bored, and how brands can help.
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Dr. John Eastwood is a clinical psychologist and an associate professor of clinical psychology at York University in Toronto, Canada. He studies the interrelationship between people’s thinking and emotions.
Andrew Hunter is a PhD candidate in clinical psychology at York University. His research focuses on the cognitive underpinnings of boredom, the measurement of mental effort, multiplicity control and replication, affective forecasting, and judgment and decision-making.
Rebecca Smith is the Head of Toolkit at Canvas8. With a background in psychology, she has worked with global clients such as Google, Nike, and Mars, exploring everything from what people want from a fake tan to Gen Z’s relationship with social media. Outside of work, you’ll find her binge-watching reality TV, listening to hyperpop, or with her nose buried in a fantasy novel.
