The problem with Break-it Smash Rooms and monetized rage…

Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

This blog post was partly inspired by the widespread trend of ‘break-it-smash rooms’, where some folks go to smash objects to release their rage, which is truly one of the stupidest ideas currently in fashion…

The search term “break-it-smash rooms near me” gets hundreds of monthly searches.

Unfortunately, this anger management method normalizes and perpetuates feelings of rage and anger, and here’s why…

A meta- literature review of over 150 studies found that deep breathing, yoga, and the traditional method of counting to ten are more effective ways of managing anger than destroying furniture or screaming into a pillow...

Contrary to popular belief that anger should be expressed or ‘vented’, the most effective anger management strategies involve reducing arousal levels.

Even seemingly unrelated activities like jogging can increase anger because they raise physiological arousal.

Anger, is a heated emotion. It requires cooling. Anything that intensifies it is akin to adding fuel to the fire…

According to Professor Brad Bushman, a co-author of the study:

“There's a common misconception that venting anger—letting it out—is beneficial. However, there is no scientific evidence supporting this catharsis theory.

To effectively reduce anger, it's better to engage in activities that lower arousal levels. Even activities like running, often seen as a way to blow off steam, can backfire because they increase arousal levels.”

Dr. Sophie Kjærvik, the study’s lead author, directly confronts and challenges the trend of ‘rage rooms’:

“We aimed to challenge the notion that expressing anger is a valid coping mechanism. Our goal was to highlight the importance of reducing arousal, particularly the physiological aspect of it.”

The importance of reducing arousal…

This meta-review, which analyzed 154 studies involving over 10,000 participants, compared activities that increase arousal with those that decrease it. The findings indicated that effective techniques for reducing anger include:

Deep breathing

Relaxation techniques

Mindfulness practices

Meditation

Slow flow yoga

Progressive muscle relaxation

Diaphragmatic breathing

Taking a timeout

Dr. Kjærvik noted:

“It was fascinating to discover that progressive muscle relaxation and general relaxation techniques may be as effective as mindfulness and meditation.

While potentially more stimulating than meditation or mindfulness, yoga can reduce anger by calming and focusing on breathing. Given the prevalent stress in today's society, finding coping strategies for stress and anger that overlap is invaluable.”

Activities that increased arousal had little effect on reducing anger, and in some cases, actually increased it.

Professor Bushman concluded:

“While certain physical activities that increase arousal may benefit heart health, they are not the most effective for anger management. There's a conflict because individuals experiencing anger often seek to vent, but our research indicates that any temporary relief from venting actually reinforces aggressive behavior.”

Final thoughts

Break-it-smash rooms used to vent anger perpetuate anger and discontent. Reinforcing feelings of rage and anger is exactly what we should avoid doing right now during these historically perilous times.

Why defy the science? This rage-room fad will fade, as previous cathartic retail offerings always have. We’ve seen this nonsense before—Caveat emptor.

Back in the 1970s, at the height of the human potential movement, encounter groups, and third-wave psychology, you couldn’t attend a class or workshop without boffers (cushioned bats) coming into play.

Participants punched pillows, beat suspended weight bags with baseball bats, and made harvest gold and avocado-colored sofa cushions beg for mercy.

They were “letting their anger out,” expressing their rage, and releasing the steam of repressed emotions.

Yeah, they said it was exhilarating, energizing, and fun, but it was also profoundly ineffective. Catharsis doesn’t dissipate anger; it organizes it!

Catharsis is a bad idea for managing anger. And rage rooms are a decidedly stupid example of Limbic Capitalism.

I’m also troubled by the narrative frame here. Absent their venting of rage, does a Break-it-Smash-Room offer an experience for humans worth paying for? In other words, does shared mayhem have an emotional context other than rage? I.E., does it offer a safe and orderly, drunk and disorderly experience? LOL…Now what would you pay?

Somehow, we humans keep being pulled to the dark side. We are endlessly fascinated by the idea of anger as an organizing principle.

There’s no law against promoting bad, unworkable anger management ideas, especially because it feels good in the moment. I’m sorry if the idea that you’re damaging your brain and nervous system is a buzz kill… but we can do better than this, can’t we?

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.

RESEARCH:

Kjærvik, S. L., & Bushman, B. J. (2024). A meta-analytic review of anger management activities that increase or decrease arousal: What fuels or douses rage? Clinical Psychology Review, 109, 102414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102414