Why being really angry could actually make you happier

Can being angry actually make you happier? Surprisingly, the answer to that question is, ‘Yes’ – but it doesn’t always work.

A new study suggests that feeling negative emotions such as anger and hatred makes people happier – if those happen to be the emotions they want to feel.

So, for instance, someone reading a story about Nazis would want (and expect) to feel anger – and if they did, they would feel happier.

Researchers at the The Hebrew University of Jerusalem asked 2,300 university students from around the world what emotions they wanted to feel – and what ones they felt.

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Most people want to feel positive emotions, most of the time – but if you want to feel angry, doing so can make you happier.

Lead researcher Dr Maya Tamir said, ‘If you feel emotions you want to feel, even if they’re unpleasant, then you’re better off.

‘Someone who feels no anger when reading about child abuse might think they should be angrier about the plight of abused children, so want to feel more anger than they actually do in that moment.’