Research Period: July 2025 - November 2025 Principal Investigator: Rushil Mahadevu

Research Question

How do cultural attitudes and individual psychological experiences of stillness and silence vary across diverse demographic groups, and what are the perceived benefits and challenges associated with engaging with quiet moments?

Project Overview

This interdisciplinary research project examines stillness and silence through psychological, cultural, and philosophical lenses. The project investigates how different demographic groups respond to quiet moments - whether they avoid them due to cultural conditioning that equates worth with productivity, or embrace them as gateways to creativity and self-discovery.

The research focuses particularly on Generation Z’s unique relationship with constant stimulation and explores how cultural norms influence attitudes toward stillness across various backgrounds.

Key Research Objectives

1. Psychological Exploration: Explore psychological perceptions and emotional responses to stillness and silence across different age cohorts
2. Cultural Analysis: Identify and analyze cultural norms and societal conditioning that influence attitudes toward stillness in various demographic backgrounds
3. Benefits & Challenges Assessment: Understand the perceived benefits and challenges individuals associate with engaging in moments of stillness and silence

Research Approach

• Interdisciplinary Methodology: Integrating psychology, cultural studies, philosophy, and neuroscience
• Diverse Demographics: Focus on various demographic groups with special attention to generational differences
• Behavioral Investigation: Analysis of both avoidance behaviors (reaching for phones, treating silence as problems to solve) and embracing behaviors (using stillness for creativity and self-discovery)

Research Areas of Focus

Cultural Conditioning & Productivity

Examining how modern society’s equation of worth with constant productivity affects our relationship with stillness, particularly across different cultural backgrounds.

Generational Perspectives

Special focus on Generation Z’s unique relationship with constant stimulation and how it differs from other generational cohorts.

Psychological Responses

Investigation of emotional and cognitive responses to enforced versus chosen stillness across demographic groups.

Creative & Self-Discovery Pathways

Understanding how stillness serves as a gateway to creativity and personal insight for different individuals.

Methodology

• Qualitative Interviews: In-depth conversations with participants from diverse backgrounds
• Observational Studies: Behavioral analysis during periods of enforced stillness
• Cultural Surveys: Cross-cultural comparison of attitudes toward silence and reflection
• Neuropsychological Assessments: Collaboration with neuroscience researchers to understand brain activity during stillness

Timeline

• July 2025: Project initiation, literature review, methodology development
• August-September 2025: Data collection phase, participant recruitment and interviews
• October 2025: Data analysis and preliminary findings
• November 2025: Final analysis, report compilation, and presentation

Expected Outcomes

This research aims to contribute to our understanding of:

• How cultural backgrounds shape our relationship with stillness
• The psychological mechanisms behind stillness avoidance and embrace
• Potential interventions to help individuals develop healthier relationships with quiet moments
• The role of stillness in creativity and personal development across cultures

Current Status

The project is currently in the data collection phase, with ongoing interviews and observational studies across diverse demographic groups.