FEELING GRUMPY “IS GOOD FOR YOU”

Well, that’s a relief then. Apparently it can make you communicate better. Although if I”m grumpy I either shout or I sulk. Either way. Not good communication.

According to an Australian psychology expert who has been studying emotions he has found that being grumpy makes us think more clearly. In contrast to happy people, miserable people are better at decision-making and less gullible, his experiments showed.

Well of course it makes us think more clearly. We have more time to think. Because when you’re grumpy people leave you alone to think and you don’t go out as much. Leaving more time for grumpy thoughts. Meanwhile the happy people are rushing about on rollercoasters not thinking. Just enjoying.

“Misery is the thinking man’s happiness”. Do you think that is true? Negative moods trigger more attentive, careful thinking, paying greater attention to the external world. Those in a bad mood outperformed those who were jolly – they made fewer mistakes and were better communicators.

Professor Forgas said: “Whereas positive mood seems to promote creativity, flexibility, co-operation and reliance on mental shortcuts, negative moods trigger more attentive, careful thinking, paying greater attention to the external world.”

The study also found that sad people were better at stating their case through written arguments, which Forgas said showed that a “mildly negative mood may actually promote a more concrete, accommodative and ultimately more successful communication style”.

His earlier work shows the weather has a similar impact on us – wet, dreary days sharpened memory, while bright sunny spells make people forgetful.