Japan – Most people deal with anger by running, taking some deep breaths or even screaming into a pillow, but a new study reveals what you can actually do best.
Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan found that writing down your reaction on a piece of paper and then throwing it away is so effective that it eliminates feelings of anger “almost completely.”
The team recruited participants, who were asked to write a short opinion piece about important social issues, and evaluate their writing.
No matter what they wrote, they all received insulting and negative comments, and received low scores on intelligence, interest, logic, and rationality.
Participants were then asked to write their thoughts on a piece of paper, then dispose of the paper in the trash, keep it in a file on their desk, or place it in a shredder or in a clear plastic box.
The analysis revealed that despite the anger caused by receiving insulting comments, participants who discarded or tore up their written thoughts quickly returned to their initial state of calm.
Participants who retained what they wrote saw a slight decrease in their overall anger.
“We expected that our method would suppress anger to some extent,” said lead researcher Nobuyuki Kawai. “However, to our surprise, the anger was almost completely overcome.”
The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, build on previous studies showing how interactions with physical objects can control a person’s mood.
The team said their research could help office workers who find themselves in stressful situations.
Source: Daily Mail
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2024-04-12 09:39:38