Matt_Simpson comments on Working hurts less than procrastinating, we fear the twinge of starting

[Matt_Simpson]

For example, I might avoid the usually fun task of checking my e-mail because of a difficult one I keep putting off writing. (This is called Relational Frame Theory.) Or, put off an only slightly uncomfortable work task because it connects to a larger one that scares me.

This seems like a consequence of the connectionist paradigm of the mind. According to this theory, we are literally hardwired to build associations in this manner.