Many of us know the movie "The Hangover." Four guys, bored with their ordinary lives, escape to Las Vegas for a wild bachelor party. It's a whirlwind of escapades, but when the credits roll, we're left wondering: Is that kind of thrill sustainable? Or is it just a fleeting escape from the mundane?

Let's flip the script and consider another Vegas-themed movie, "Leaving Las Vegas." It's a darker tale of a man who goes to Vegas to drown his sorrows and ultimately meets his demise. These two movies highlight the extremes of how we deal with boredom—one with reckless abandon, the other with self-destruction.

In my line of work, I've encountered many people who've experienced Vegas firsthand. While the city offers plenty of entertainment, I've noticed a surprising pattern: People often make choices with negative consequences while they're there. Why is this?

The answer lies in our inherent aversion to boredom. A colleague who works in women's shelters shared a fascinating observation. Women often arrive at the........

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