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A woman wearing a black sweatshirt and black boxing gloves. She is punching a punching bag.
Six Great Ways to Vent Your Frustrations
LIFEHACK.ORG, N.D.
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A man with a mask smashing a keyboard against a log while another man in the same mask watches. The word “fury” is painted in yellow on the wall.
Rage Room Helps Cure Your Anger and Frustration Issues
NJ.COM, 2018
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
A year from now, you should still be able to:
- Explain why all scientists, including psychologists, value research-based conclusions over beliefs based on experience, intuition, or authority.
- Locate legitimate research-based information and read it with a purpose.
HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED online for a stress-relief technique? You might have found aggressive games such as Kick the Buddy or downloaded an app such as Smash Boss. Maybe you’ve considered paying for a “rage room” that lets you destroy plates, computers, or teddy bears. Perhaps a friend has suggested posting your complaints publicly in an anonymous chat room. But does venting anger really make people feel better? Does expressing aggression make aggression go away?
Many sources of information promote the idea that venting your frustrations works. You might try a “venting” app yourself and feel good while you’re using it. Or you may hear from guidance counselors, friends, or online sources that venting negative feelings is a healthy way to manage anger. But is it accurate to base your conclusions on what well-meaning authorities say? Should you believe what everyone else believes? Does it make sense to base your convictions on your own personal experience?
This chapter discusses three sources of evidence for people’s beliefs—experience, intuition, and authority—and compares them to a superior source of evidence: empirical research. We will evaluate one particular approach to handling anger: the idea of cathartically releasing bottled-up tension by hitting a punching bag, screaming, or expressing your emotions (Figure 2.1). Is catharsis a healthy way to deal with feelings of anger and frustration? How could you find credible research on this subject if you wanted to read about it? And why should you trust the conclusions of researchers instead of those based on your own experience or intuition?
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Figure 2.1 is a screenshot of the Kick the Buddy app. The caption says: Anger management.Some people believe that venting physically or emotionally is the best way to work through anger. But what does the research suggest?
Figure 2.1
Anger management.
Some people believe that venting physically or emotionally is the best way to work through anger. But what does the research suggest?