Ethan Kross, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Michigan and a world expert in researching “chatter” (the voice in our heads) and emotion regulation.
Many people believe that verbally venting — or venting via text — makes us feel better. However, the data show that while venting strengthens social bonds, it also makes both the complainer and the listener more unhappy and amplifies negative emotions for both parties. Essentially, venting is counterproductive if your goal is to feel better.
This is interesting, considering that nearly all of us are prone to venting to some degree.
Note: The data on journaling (covered in this and a previous Huberman Lab episode) strongly suggest that processing bad experiences doesn’t do much to relieve the associated negative emotions. There’s something intriguing about the differences between journaling to oneself and complaining or venting to others.
