When it finds sadness, it is possible to burrow in blankets and turn on a rainy movie, drinking tea and quietly grieve.
Is it worth any price to avoid sadness, irritation and anger? Studies show that these feelings can be useful.
1. The alternation of sadness and joy is important for motivation
Psychologists from Ghent University (Belgium) found that those whose moods changed from sad to joyful during the day, more serious work (as opposed to those who during the day was in the same mood). In their view, this proves the importance of emotional switching to maintain the rhythm. “We need to understand that stressful events such as conflicts with colleagues, errors and failures – an inevitable part of the working process, say the researchers. – Negative experience spurs people to action and causes them to be collected”.
2. Accept your sadness and it will bother you less
Sometimes we’re more concerned with not emotions themselves, and the fact that they seem to us wrong and inappropriate. Psychologist Luong Gloria (Gloria Luong) and her colleagues surveyed 365 students about how they relate to positive and negative emotions. Then for three weeks the researchers observed them and recorded how certain emotions affected their psychological state. Overall, the majority of young people demonstrated the anticipated consequences of emotions (for example, complained of fatigue and headache because of depression and, conversely, did not notice them on the rise). But it turned out that those who belonged to negative emotions calmly, suffered less from them. And those who was angry with himself because of his depression, he experienced an even greater loss of strength.
3. It is sometimes useful to have a good cry
In some cases, instead of having to hold back the tears around your eyes, is to let them spill. In the experiment, American psychologist Bylsma Lauren (Lauren Bylsma) 97 of women students within one to two months noted in the diary of the episodes, when I could not hold back the tears. 60% reported that their mood after crying has not changed. But 30 percent said they felt better. In this case the stronger (but not long) had a bout of crying, the more relief followed.
4. We are more convincing when you’re sad
Psychologists from the University of South Wales (Australia) showed volunteers small films to cause them sadness or cheer. Then they were asked to come up with arguments to convince the interlocutor in an imaginary their point of view on a controversial issue. This experience was repeated several times several times, and always by those who were in a bad mood, offered more convincing arguments. According to the authors, sadness encourages people to be more focused and careful.
5. Mild depression, helps to better feel the emotions of others
A depressed person often feels alone and detached from the outside world. But psychologists Klinskogo University (Canada) found that mild depression actually increases the ability to recognize the emotions of people in photographs, which were only visible to the eye. However, there is one caveat: depression is usually accompanied by low self-esteem, and people exposed to it, are not always able to correctly interpret other people’s emotions (for example, to think that others are angry with them or blame them).
6. A bad mood does not reduce the sharpness of mind
Is it possible to work regardless of your mood? Psychologists from the University goldsmiths, University of London (UK) invited the participants of their study for five days to perform various smart tests on concentration, memory and speed of information processing. Every day before starting work, the participants filled out a questionnaire about your mood. Productivity indicators and sentiment fluctuated during the whole time of the study, but in General the relationships between them have been identified. In other words, a bad mood does not affect the operation of the mind.
7. Sadness stimulates analytical thinking
In the experiment, Dutch scientists students studying business, listened to instructions and a motivating speech from your educator via video link. In one case, the curator said a confident and cheerful voice, smiling, and his whole appearance radiated the joy of the other, on the contrary, looked anxious and upset. Those students who listened to the parting words of the curator in good spirits, showed themselves better when performing tasks on creativity. But those who saw the second entry, better able to cope with games on analytical thinking.
8. Sadness makes us more attentive
Australian psychologists have also found that people in depressed mood are more attentive to the inconsistencies in the information. The researchers showed volunteers a film about a traffic accident, and then some of them were asked to recall sad events of life. After a while they asked questions on the film, among whom were the tricks (e.g., “have you noticed the fireman with the hose?”). Those who recalled the events related to the feeling of sadness, often determined the catch and were generally more accurate.
9. When we are sad, we are harder to fool
The same researchers found that sad people are better liars figure facial expression, gestures and other signs. Study participants were shown videos where people testified about the theft. Some of them were telling the truth, the other lied. Those who start to experience watching movies with a sad ending, the most frequently pointed out cheaters.
10. Sadness is a symptom of a meaningful life
They say that only a fool is always happy. An American survey published in 2013, showed that those who believed their life meaningful, are also more likely to experience anxiety, stress and anxiety. “People who sacrifice their fun in order to do something constructive for the society, make an important contribution to its development,” says psychologist Roy Baumeister (Roy Baumeister). – We should encourage people to act, despite the likelihood of losing the peace and momentary happiness.”
