Brains vs. Beliefs Episode 6: Venting Anger

By Emily Stark and Karla Lassonde

a man with an angry grimace looking at his phone


In this episode of Brains vs. Beliefs, we discuss the misconception that actively venting anger-- like through screaming, hitting a punching bag, or going to a rage room— helps to reduce anger. We describe research that shows that this type of venting can actually increase our anger, and lead to health problems such as high blood pressure. We also unpack why this myth persists in media, influencer culture, and self-help advice, offering listeners key takeaways about how to effectively respond when you are angry.

You can view show notes and a transcript here: https://share.transistor.fm/s/bee087c3

Listen below or wherever you find podcasts!

References and Resources

Bornstein, R. F. (2003). The scientific review of mental health practice: Implications for psychology and psychoanalysis. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 20 (4), 717– 726. doi:10.1037/0736-9735.20.4.717.

Bushman, B. J. (2002). Does venting anger feed or extinguish the flame? Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28(6), 724-731.

Bushman, B. J., Baumeister, R. F., & Stack, A. D. (1999). Catharsis, aggression, and persuasive influence: Self-fulfilling or self-defeating prophecies? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76(3), 367–376. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.76.3.367. 

Dope or Nope Podcast: https://youtu.be/pPvpTfzhyH8?si=g3qZJJ--bH4xf-Mr

Lilienfeld, S. O., Lynn, S. J., Ruscio, J., & Beyerstein, B. L. (2010). 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology: Shattering Widespread Misconceptions about Human Behavior. Wiley-Blackwell, West Sussex, United Kingdom.

Newsy.com clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEVLmC53a38

Neild, D. (2024). Angry Outbursts Could Literally Be Putting Some People's Heart at Risk. Sciencealert.com. https://www.sciencealert.com/angry-outbursts-could-literally-be-putting-some-peoples-heart-at-risk

Kjærvik, S. L. & Bushman, B. J. (2024). A meta-analytic review of anger management activities that increase or decrease arousal: What fuels or douses rage? Clinical Psychology Review. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102414

Karla Lassonde