Go Ahead -- Smash That Computer!

Frustration. We've all been there. You have a bad day at work, and on a Monday no less. You get cut off on the freeway and narrowly avoid a collision. You're stuck sitting next to a screaming child on a three-hour flight. You can feel the pressure building up. You could almost throw your coffee mug against the wall in frustration. Almost.

That feeling, and the desire it creates in you to smash things, has grown into a unique business: Rage Rooms and Smash Shops. For a small fee -- ranging from $20 (for 15 minutes and 30 items to smash) to $85 (for a more comprehensive experience) -- you can express all that pent up frustration by breaking things. And business is booming (or should we say, smashing?)

Recreational Destruction

It's a simple concept. Vent your anger and rage resulting from a stressful situation (e.g., being fired or ending a relationship) in a safe atmosphere. Or smash things for the entertainment value and the adrenaline rush. Some businesses have high-definition cameras in their rage rooms and offer photos or video of your smash action as a keepsake. Some are audio equipped, offering you the chance to destroy things to music. Still others allow you to write personal messages or draw images on the items you are about to break, to enhance the effect.

Therapeutic effect? Or Anger Reinforcement?

While great minds of the past, like Freud and Aristotle, shared the perspective that expression of hostility can have a cathartic, healing effect on a person, contemporary studies show a differing point of view.

University of Arkansas Professor of Psychology, Jeffrey Lohr, coauthored a 2007 study that directly challenged the philosophies of Aristotle and Mr. Freud. His paper, The Pseudopsychology of Venting in the Treatment of Anger: Implications and Alternatives for Mental Health Practice, published in the Scientific Review of Mental Health, challenge the previously held approach. Lohr and his coauthors determined that not only is the clinical support of the "venting is good for you" philosophy lacking, but that it, "directly challenges the integrity of mental health practice and places the public at risk."

Negative Reinforcement

Lohr's paper, along with other studies done by Florida State University and the University of Michigan, examines the position held by rage-room supporters: That the endorphin release which puts you in a good mood after smashing things in a controlled environment is similar to exercise. In simpler words, smashing stuff is good for you. Multiple studies, however, contradict that popularly held belief and purport that "the good feeling that follows venting anger is likely to reinforce venting and violence."

In other words, smashing things just makes you want to smash more things.

No one is denying that the act of breaking things can be fun, or that there's an associated adrenaline rush. But researchers are quick to point out that just because something is enjoyable and makes us feel good, that doesn't necessarily mean it's also good for us. "Aggression begets aggression," Professor Lohr said in a conversation with Forum News Service.

Remember that bad day at work you had? If you keep reliving the details of it, venting to family and friends, you won't feel more relaxed. The exact opposite with happen: You'll become stressed and angry every time you think about work.

Healthier Options

The good thing is, there are healthy ways to combat stress, rage, and frustration:

Walk Away. The adage of walking away when tempers rise remains good advice. A few good, deep breaths can do wonders to help you refocus, and they have the added benefit of dissipating tension and stress.

Express Yourself. We all know the power of words, and how you choose to express yourself in a tense situation can have a profound effect on its outcome. By choosing "I" over "You" to address your concerns you'll stand a better chance of reaching a resolution. "I am angry you went ahead with the meeting without me" will strike a more harmonious chord than, "You should have waited for me!"

Write it Down. The simple act of putting your anger on paper can have a remarkable impact on your overall mood. Whether it's jotting down your thoughts in a private journal or drafting long letters that you only send to the waste bin, you'll gain added insight along with the organization of your thoughts on the situation. Ultimately, that introspection may yield a useful solution to your current problem.

Dealing with frustration can be challenging, but by exploring healthier ways of dealing with anger-related struggles, your business, and your body, will thank you.