Simply letting anger out often seems to be the most direct and effective way to deal with anger. We’ll explain to you here why this doesn’t actually work so well and what you should do instead.
We’ve all heard that you shouldn’t bottle up anger, but rather express it. Maybe you too know the well-intentioned advice to simply vent your frustration instead of letting the anger simmer quietly inside you. According to popular wisdom, really cursing, cursing or exercising to relieve yourself is said to be the best way to combat anger.
A new study has now found that this is actually not true at all.
Why do we curse when we’re angry?
The urge to rant loudly in annoying or stressful situations is no coincidence. Because loud cursing actually has its purpose:
- As National Geographic reports, research shows that swearing can, for example, strengthen interpersonal relationships. When we curse in front of each other, we step away from polite communication and feel closer to each other. Because knowing which swear words we can use among each other without hurting people is a sign of mutual understanding.
- Loud swearing is also said to help us endure physical pain better.
- Swearing is even said to make us more physically efficient. The Apotheker-Umschau reports on a British study in which researchers found that loud swearing can make us physically stronger for a short time. This is because swear words temporarily inhibit the conscious and unconscious brakes on our own physical strength, allowing us to develop more strength at the appropriate moment.
Above all, swearing loudly is supposed to help us persevere better in stressful situations. But can it also make the anger go away more quickly?
Why loud swearing doesn’t always help when you’re angry
We especially get the recommendation to let off steam when we are really annoyed about something. The advice is usually well-intentioned and is actually just intended to help us feel better quickly. As explained above, loud swearing can actually do good things.
But what it can’t do, according to a new study, is make us feel less angry. A meta-study from the USA recently found that swearing and complaining about a situation can actually make us more upset.
- According to the study’s senior author, there is no scientific evidence that letting off steam actually helps reduce anger.
- Instead, activities that increase our arousal levels (like swearing) are more likely to make us more upset than we already are. In the worst case, the anger increases more and more. Although swearing and swearing can help us to cope with stress better in the short term, they are rather unsuitable for actually reducing anger.
- According to the expert, the level of excitement increases not only through loud swearing, but also through sports such as running. Therefore, it is not advisable to let anger out while exercising. At least not every sport is suitable for this.
How should you deal with anger?
According to the results of the new study, instead of cursing loudly, you should engage in activities that shut down your nervous system and calm you down. These include, for example:
- playful forms of exercise where fun is the main focus (e.g. ball sports)
- yoga
- progressive muscle relaxation
- conscious breathing
The important thing is that the technique you choose is relaxing for you. According to the researchers, similar techniques can help people deal with strong emotions when it comes to anger and stress.
But that doesn’t mean you should bottle up anger or aggression. Of course, you can also swear sometimes to feel better in the short term. Talking about negative emotions can also be good. However, be aware that venting anger is not a long-term solution and that other relaxation techniques may be more helpful in dealing with anger.
Read more on Techzle\.com:
- Frustration: This is how you learn to deal with it
- Think positively: How to learn and get rid of negative thoughts
- Reduce stress: 7 tips to slow down your life
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