- Writing down and discarding anger reduces wrath significantly
- Study suggests this method is more effective than other strategies
- Potential application in stress management for office workers highlighted
Attempting to manage fury through running, deep breathing, or even sobbing into a pillow has been effective.
However, according to new research, the wisest action may be to write down your reaction on paper and discard it.
Scientists discovered the method was so effective that it eradicated feelings of wrath “virtually entirely.”
Participants were recruited by the team from Nagoya University in Japan and requested to compose a brief opinion essay on significant social issues.
Upon being informed that their writing would be assessed. However, they were all met with insulting and negative feedback and received low marks for intellect, interest, logic, and rationality, regardless of their submitted content.
After receiving these unfavourable remarks, the participants were requested to record their reflections on a separate sheet of paper.
One group was instructed to maintain the paper in a file on their desk or dispose of it in the receptacle. The second group was asked to shred the document or place it in a clear plastic receptacle.
The analysis indicated that although all participants expressed heightened wrath in response to the derogatory remarks, those who discarded or shredded their written reflections swiftly regained their initial composure.
Conversely, those who retained a physical copy of the insult reported a marginal reduction in their overall level of wrath.
The principal investigator, Nobuyuki Kawai, stated, “We anticipated that our method would mitigate anger to some degree.”
“Take a step towards financial freedom – claim your free Webull shares now!”
“However, we were astounded by the near-total eradication of anger.”
The results, published in Scientific Reports, extend prior research demonstrating the mood-regulating potential of tangible object interactions.
According to the group, their research may benefit office workers with stressful circumstances.
When one feels angry in a business situation, this technique could be implemented by writing down the source of anger as if taking a memo and discarding it,” Mr Kawai explained.
