There’s a peculiar habit some folks have—leaving the TV on while they’re busy doing house chores.
Strange, isn’t it? But there’s more to it than just background noise.
This behavior actually has a psychological basis.
Some people do it for comfort, others to simulate company, and some have reasons they can’t exactly put into words.
In this article, we’ll delve into the seven psychological reasons why some individuals keep their TV sets on while bustling around the house.
It’s a fascinating dive into the human psyche, and you might just find yourself relating in ways you didn’t expect:
1) Comfort in familiarity
We all have our peculiar habits, don’t we?
Leaving the TV on while doing errands around the house can seem quirky, but it’s rooted in a basic human need—comfort in familiarity.
Most of us have grown up with the television being a constant background presence.
So, even when we’re not directly watching it, having it on creates a familiar and comfortable environment.
It’s a subconscious way of bringing order and predictability to our lives.
In fact, Swiss psychologist Carl Jung once said, “In all chaos, there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order.”
It seems that for some of us, that secret order comes in the form of a buzzing TV set while we’re bustling around the house.
This seemingly odd behavior is just one of the many ways we humans seek comfort in familiarity.
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2) A sense of company
Whenever I’m home alone, doing chores or working on a project, I find myself leaving the TV on.
It’s not like I’m actively watching it, but the voices from the show or the news give me a sense of company; it almost feels like there’s someone else with me in the house.
This is especially true in these pandemic times when social interactions are limited.
The television can serve as a sort of simulated social interaction.
Let’s bring in psychology here: Renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow highlighted the need for belonging in his famous hierarchy of needs.
With the TV on, we have this illusion of being part of something bigger than our lonely chores, thus satisfying our inherent need for a sense of belonging.
3) Distracting from harsh reality
Ever found yourself turning on the TV just to drown out your own thoughts?
That’s a more common experience than you might think.
Sometimes the silence around us can amplify our internal noise – worries, anxieties, existential questions.
In these moments, the TV serves as a convenient distraction.
The external noise drowns out our internal chatter, providing temporary relief from our own minds.
This isn’t just speculation as the famous psychologist Sigmund Freud once said, “Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways.”
Using the TV as a distraction might be a way of burying those unexpressed emotions, at least for a while.
It’s not the healthiest coping mechanism, but hey, we’re all human.
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Sometimes we resort to whatever works in the moment.
4) Creating a sense of routine
Human beings are creatures of habit—we thrive on routine and predictability.
The act of leaving the TV on while doing errands around the house can often be linked to a person’s need for a stable routine.
Consider this: You come home from a long day at work, you kick off your shoes, turn on the TV, and start your house chores.
The TV provides a consistent background noise that you’ve associated with your evening routine.
It signals to your brain that it’s time to transition from work mode to home mode.
A study by psychologist Robert Zajonc called “Mere Exposure Effect” explains this behavior.
According to the study, people tend to develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them; the sound of the TV, even if it’s just background noise, becomes something we’re used to and therefore something we prefer.
In this sense, leaving the TV on while doing errands is not just about filling the room with sound.
It’s about creating a familiar environment that promotes a sense of routine and stability in our lives.
5) Illusion of multitasking
I’ve heard it said that when the TV is on, some folks feel like they’re accomplishing more than just their chores.
They’re also ‘catching up’ on the news, or a favorite show, or perhaps even learning something new from a documentary.
It’s a sense of multitasking, even if they’re not fully engaged with what’s happening on the screen.
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We like to feel productive, don’t we? As if every moment needs to be used effectively.
It gives us an illusion of multitasking without the cognitive load that usually comes with it.
The next time you leave the TV on while tidying up or cooking dinner, remember it could just be your way of trying to squeeze a little more productivity out of your day.
6) Embracing solitude
Now, this might sound counterintuitive.
How can leaving the TV on be about embracing solitude? But hear me out.
Sometimes, the noise of the television serves as a reminder of the silence it’s filling.
It underscores the fact that we are alone, and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Famed psychologist Rollo May said, “In order to be open to creativity, one must have the capacity for constructive use of solitude. One must overcome the fear of being alone.”
When we learn to be comfortable with our own company, we open ourselves to introspection and self-discovery.
The TV noise in the background can serve as a gentle buffer that allows us to ease into our solitude without feeling overwhelmed by it.
7) Fear of silence
Lastly, and quite simply, some people might leave the TV on due to a fear of silence.
Silence can be deafening, and it can make us face thoughts and feelings we might be trying to avoid.
Maybe leaving the TV on is just a way to drown out the self-reflection that silence often brings.
A way to avoid accepting oneself completely, at least for a little while—it’s a thought worth considering.
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Final reflections
As we’ve delved into these seven psychological reasons for leaving the TV on while doing errands around the house, we’ve uncovered a myriad of human behaviors, emotions, and needs.
From seeking comfort in familiarity and creating a sense of company, to embracing solitude and even distracting from harsh realities—each point has shed light on the complexities of our minds.
We may all have different reasons for this seemingly odd habit but, in the end, it’s these quirks that make us uniquely human.
The TV noise filling our homes might be more than just background sound; it could be a reflection of our inner workings.
So, the next time you find yourself reaching for that remote while starting your chores, take a moment to reflect.
You might just uncover something new about your own psyche.
After all, understanding ourselves is the first step towards personal growth.
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