Anger is eliminated with the disposal of a paper written because of provocation
A new psychology study claims that writing down angry thoughts and then physically discarding the paper measurably reduces anger, prompting debate over both its scientific rigor and practical value. Commenters contrast this “throw it away” ritual with well-known expressive writing and journaling practices, share personal strategies for processing anger and trauma, and argue over whether anger should be suppressed, expressed, or transformed. Many also question the study’s small sample size, effect size, and the quality of the journal, framing it as an intriguing idea that needs replication before it can be treated as more than suggestive.
Study credibility and replication
- Many see the result as interesting but emphasize it’s unreplicated and should be treated as tentative.
- Several note the journal (“Scientific Reports”) is considered lower-impact; some take papers there with “a grain of salt.”
- Others warn about social-psychology-style results that are elegant and media-friendly but often fail to replicate.
- Commenters call out the need to distinguish “first result” from science that has been robustly replicated.
What might be working: writing vs. disposal vs. “letting go”
- Multiple people highlight the difference between:
- Writing to organize thoughts and externalize emotion.
- Physically discarding or destroying the writing as a symbolic act of letting go.
- Some say they already do similar things: unsent letters, shredded/burned notes, or “drafts” they never send/post.
- Others stress that the “letting go” component is under-discussed compared to the writing part.
Anger, suppression, and healthy expression
- One camp argues that focusing on “suppressing” anger is harmful; suppression and shaming of anger can lead to explosive outbursts (e.g., road rage).
- Another camp counters that uncontrolled anger leads to unnecessary conflict, so techniques that damp it are valuable.
- Several try to differentiate:
- Suppression vs. processing/expressing anger in small, timely, verbal conflicts.
- Anger as a signal of boundary violations vs. chronic, misdirected rage from broader helplessness.
Forgiveness, trauma, and therapy
- Extended discussion on “forgiveness”:
- One view: forgiveness = letting go of resentment, for the offended person’s benefit.
- Another view: forgiveness requires understanding cause, correcting harm, and mitigating future risk; otherwise it can be dangerous or enabling.
- Some describe therapy and CBT-like practices (writing distorted thoughts, breathing, grounding) as “self-brainwashing” but still useful if they reduce suffering.
Methodological and effect-size critiques
- Commenters question sample size (~57), lack/weakness of control conditions, potential placebo effects, and generalizability beyond Japanese students.
- Several note that the reported change in anger scores is modest; “anger eliminated” is seen as overstated.
Broader takeaways and anecdotes
- Many share personal practices: journals never reread, burning letters, imaginary “throwing away,” private rant documents, and unsent online comments.
- Some see parallels with expressive writing research, historical curse/“execration” texts, and cultural rituals of symbolic disposal.