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17:24
Angry? The benefits of blowing your top
Who could forget Peter Finch as Howard Beale and the famous “mad as hell” speech from the 1976 dark-comedy classic Network? But was Howard Beale really on to something? Psychologists are finding more and more evidence that there really is a benefit to getting mad as hell. And there are even societal expectations that, sometimes, it’s just good to get angry. Think of President Obama, who has come under criticism for seeming too detached and distant from the BP oil spill. Some say an overt display of anger helps people communicate which things they truly care about. What do you think? Is it better to stay cool, or is there an appropriate time to blow one's top?
Who could forget Peter Finch as Howard Beale and the famous “mad as hell” speech from the 1976 dark-comedy classic Network? But was Howard Beale really on to something? Psychologists are finding more and more evidence that there really is a benefit to getting mad as hell. And there are even societal expectations that, sometimes, it’s just good to get angry. Think of President Obama, who has come under criticism for seeming too detached and distant from the BP oil spill. Some say an overt display of anger helps people communicate which things they truly care about. What do you think? Is it better to stay cool, or is there an appropriate time to blow one's top?
Guest:
Stefan Hofmann, professor of psychology at Boston University