a little note on venting....

i know there's a common belief that "venting" will help to prevent acting out on frustration.  it's supposed to be cathartic.  but guess what?  that's an old, outdated, disproven idea.  used to be thought that when you had a violent kid, you should put him in boxing or give him an inanimate object to hit, let him "get it out of his system."

turns out, it's not true.  aggression breeds aggression, and "venting" just fuels frustration and lends credence to irrational beliefs (especially when others implicitly or explicitly agree with the vent).

just something to think about.

I recall reading about a study related to this in one of my psychology classes... the subjects were asked to write an essay, someone came in and "graded" the paper, and told them it was horrible and insulted them. Afterwards, some subjects were given a pillow, and encrouraged to you know let out their frustrations on the pillow and beat it up. Some were not given a pillow. THEN they gave the subjects a bowl of super spicy salsa, and a cup. They told them to fill up the cup with some salsa, and it was going to be given to someone else that was going to have to eat it. The people who beat up the pillow put way more salsa in the cups than the people who had just had that time to relax.

Or maybe that was just a weird dream I had last week.....

periwinkle works best, crazy

and avoid oil-based paints - they'll make your butt break out

*voice of experience speaks*

Original Post by pavlovcat:

periwinkle works best, crazy

and avoid oil-based paints - they'll make your butt break out

*voice of experience speaks*

 in acne, or out of my pants?

Both, the acne will make your butt swell so much that it'll rip right out of your pants.

roflmao

water-based it is!

Are you venting about venting?

Original Post by coffincritter:

Are you venting about venting?

 I'd say she is.  Kind of hypocritical, isn't it?

Pg is one of the least hypocritical people on this site.

I believe this thread has degenerated into pure humor at this point but I find that when I am angry the phrase "Better out than in" is really good.  I scream, I kick out into the air, I flail around, I like to keep myself active and busy so I'll color or doodle (angry doodle).  Sometimes I go the verbal route, but I'm not necessarily listening to what I'm saying, I'm just letting it all out.  Once I get all that stress out I'm able to relax.  If I did that salsa thing after doing some of the above, I don't think I'd put a lot of it in the cup unless I was assured that whatever caused my anger was going to get it lol.

If her intent is to stop all those "rant" or "vent" posts, then I'm all for it.

I'd also like to see the research backing it up though. 

Original Post by kathygator:

Pg is one of the least hypocritical people on this site.

Everyone is hypocritical in some way.  EVERYONE

Original Post by ds1973:

If her intent is to stop all those "rant" or "vent" posts, then I'm all for it.

I'd also like to see the research backing it up though. 

 I may have to rant/vent about this later. Let me stew for a bit...

Original Post by prinzessin_naseimbuch:

I scream, I kick out into the air, I flail around....

I sound my barbaric yawp.

Original Post by prinzessin_naseimbuch:

Original Post by kathygator:

Pg is one of the least hypocritical people on this site.

Everyone is hypocritical in some way.  EVERYONE

 I didn't say otherwise, hence the word 'least'.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

Original Post by amethystgirl:

I think it depends on how you are defining "vent" - I think talking to a therapist or friend could be a "vent" - letting your emotions out, sorting through how you feel about something, and getting a different perspective on the issue (or hearing that it's ok that you are angry at your coworker for whatever he did).

Your post seems to equate vent with agressive and irrational, and I don't think venting has to be either.

i think venting often is aggressive and/or irrational.

my main point, though, is that it's a mistake to assume that venting is harmless and ineffectual.  it can serve to solidify and reinforce thoughts and beliefs that are inaccurate, unhelpful, or both.

for those who want hard research, search catharsis.  you'll find it.

 there you go Dave.

Original Post by kathygator:

Original Post by pgeorgian:

Original Post by amethystgirl:

I think it depends on how you are defining "vent" - I think talking to a therapist or friend could be a "vent" - letting your emotions out, sorting through how you feel about something, and getting a different perspective on the issue (or hearing that it's ok that you are angry at your coworker for whatever he did).

Your post seems to equate vent with agressive and irrational, and I don't think venting has to be either.

i think venting often is aggressive and/or irrational.

my main point, though, is that it's a mistake to assume that venting is harmless and ineffectual.  it can serve to solidify and reinforce thoughts and beliefs that are inaccurate, unhelpful, or both.

for those who want hard research, search catharsis.  you'll find it.

 there you go Dave.

Who's Dave? 

I don't know, seems like it would be easy for someone more knowledgeable about the topic to post a link rather than have someone whose expertise is in chemical engineering (not psychology) try to find one.  Heck, I'm happy to search for things I know something about; reaction engineering, heat transfer, mass transfer, organometallics, gas delivery, semiconductors, computational fluid dynamics, design for six sigma, analyzing return on investment for R&D or capital projects, economics, free markets, objectivist philosophy, woodworking, winemaking, firearms, etc.. Psychology however, is far from any of my areas of expertise or general interest.

heh. I tend to bastardize peoples' usernames - sorry.

I grew up in a very stoic family - we were encouraged to "suck it up" rather than openly emote.

From what I have seen, if the alternative to venting is to bury feelings internally, I would say venting is the least harmful of the two options.

*giggles*

My dad almost never loses his temper and very rarely swears.  When I was growing up he and my mom were arguing in the car and he got really mad and said,

"Judy, stop being such a...a...bi*ch fart!"

And then everyone starting laughing hysterically.

Venting can be fun.