Your Student Life: Anger Issues
April 30, 2024
We can all feel angry from time to time and people often think that venting anger will help us. This might not be the case. A recent study by two Ohio State researchers looked at what worked better to manage anger: activities that increased arousal (venting) or activities that decreased arousal (calming activities).
What was the study?
Brad Bushman and Sophie Kjærvik reviewed 154 studies including 184 independent samples involving 10,189 participants.
What were the results?
The authors found that effects calming activities were more effective at managing anger than venting activities.
What are examples of calming and venting activities in this study?
Examples of calming activities that helped manage anger, or activities that decreased arousal were: deep breathing, mindfulness, meditation.
Examples of activities that increased arousal that did NOT help manage anger were hitting a bag, jogging or cycling.
What are some caveats?
· See the full study for further details (the link is below). .
· The authors found that the results were stable over time for participants of different genders, races, ages, and cultures.
· It also did not matter how the activities were delivered or taught: (e.g., digital platforms, researchers, therapists), group or individual sessions, field, or laboratory settings.
· This means that one could teach themselves calming activities to help manage anger or learn it from technology or others, including professional settings.
Where or how can I learn these calming techniques?
You can read more about the study from Ohio State News. You can also read the study itself in the Clinical Psychology Review (Volume 109, April 2024, 102414) online.
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