Endurance athletes inspire both admiration and confusion, particularly through their dedication to challenging activities like marathons and mountain cycling. This devotion is intriguing as it thrives on the very difficulty of the tasks undertaken.
Human psychology often leads us to perceive ourselves as inherently lazy, although experts prefer the term “effort averse.” However, there is a clear understanding that the rewards of hard work can be substantial. People frequently opt for more challenging paths, even when the final results are the same. Moreover, it appears that we take pride in the effort it took to accomplish tasks, such as the struggle involved in assembling a complicated piece of furniture.
“Effort can be seen as costly,” notes psychologist Michael Inzlicht from the University of Toronto. “Nevertheless, it seems we tend to place greater value on things that require effort.” This concept was highlighted in a groundbreaking 2018 study that identified what is now referred to as the “effort paradox.”
Since the publication of this study, researchers have been exploring the origins of the effort paradox and the varying difficulties individuals experience with tasks. Their findings offer new perspectives on motivating oneself to embark on physical activities, enhancing learning capabilities, improving empathy, and even fostering a more fulfilling life.
