[_bdog]

The main emotion involved in procrastination is disgust. A basic emotion that is as strong as fear, but is completely learned and can be attached to every kind of situation, activity or just the thought of starting them.

Procrastination is protecting yourself from feeling the upcoming revolting disgust these activities can bring. You avoid feeling it, like you avoid touching a hot plate, that's why the disgust never shows. Only when somebody forces you to do it anyway.

The (scientifically tested) theory for this is called Anstrengungsvermeidung (german for "effort/stress avoidance") and isn't widely adopted.

[kossTKR]

Lol, googling "Anstrengungsvermeidung", leads to your post on hackernews. Any external references in English?

[_98fj]

It has been developed by austrian & german psychologists, the test for school-children etc. is also in german unfortunately.

Like I said, the theory isn't widely adopted. When there's material available in english, I'll post it.

[jmorphy88]

"The way to perfection is through a series of disgusts." - Walter Pater

[blumkvist]

Any literature in English?