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Subscribe to RSSIf Thanksgiving weekend is a time for gratitude, let's make the weekend before the holiday a time for whining. Actually, two studies out this week explore the upside of negative thinking. Sometimes, believing that everything's the worst can ultimately be for the best, the research suggests.
Fun fact 1: Complaining can help inspire people to change a bad situation. “In order to actually change the system, you’ve got to know what’s wrong with it,” says India Johnson, a graduate student at Ohio State University who helped lead a study set to appear in the journal Psychological Science.
Study participants read about a student at the Ohio university who wasn't happy with his experience with the school's freshman orientation. Some of the stories detailed the student's successful attempt to improve the orientation process; others read about the student's failure to do so. Then the volunteers were given an external review of the university from the Department of Education -- they could choose between reading a positive or negative report.
Interestingly, the students who'd read about the successful changes made to the freshman orientation were more likely to choose the negative report. Johnson explains, “In order for people to feel like they can actually affect the world and actually do something, they have to view the world as changeable. If you want people to be able to make that leap, you have to first get them to that point. Then they’ll be willing to seek out the negative information."
Fun fact 2: The best two words to motivate an expert may be, "You stink!" Newbies thrive on positive feedback, but when you're dealing with a pro, it may be best to give it to him straight, according to a new study appearing in the Journal of Consumer Research.
In one study, researchers Stacey Finkelstein and Ayelet Fishbach, both of the University of Chicago, examined reactions of beginning and advanced French students. Those who were just starting the language were more likely to improve if their instructor gave them gentle feedback, but the old-timers thrived on harsh criticism. Like the Ohio State study, the research suggests that negative words can bring about positive change.
What's bugging you today? Get out your complaints in the comments so you'll be ready to give thanks on Thursday.
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Leave a Comment:
How could anyone be Anti-Thanksgiving? It is my favorite holiday more so than Christmas. I have a lot to be thank full for like having the opportunity to earn a great living over the years and even now .
It's a disgusting "holiday" in which people gorge themselves on much more food than they need just to pretend to "give thanks" to the Native Americas who they raped and stole their land from. That's how people can be anti-thanksgiving.
Haha. Troll.
ImoenOfTelengard: You really could use a lesson in the dangers of stupidity, like....how stupid is it to trash an American holiday... in America. But I am sure you don't speak like that in public, because you would not last an hour before your useless soul is transported to the bowels of Telengard....forever. You obviously know nothing of American history, and your accusations are typical lunatic-liberal. Get back to the country you were kicked out of, or perhaps just get out of your sick mother's basement and get a job.
First, I didn't realize if you disliked Thanksgiving publicly your safety was threatened? Also, he's not far off in regards to the treatment of Native Americans. I remember some blankets laced with smallpox and a little thing called "The trail of tears"? Also, the Homesteader's Act of 1862 pretty much sealed the deal that everyone in the US back then was an @!$%# and the Native Americans were treated like @!$%#. And yes, I'm American. I fail to see how he doesn't know history, since everything he said in regards to the treatment of the folks who were here first is correct, it basically came down to them being forced off their land at gunpoint and mass starvation. How are basic history facts political at all? And considering you're also commenting on facebook at eleven (most work starts at 8 or 9 am), you're just as suspect for not having a job as he is if we follow your logic. Your comment is poorly constructed and you might want to reconsider leaping on someone who disagrees with you and hurling childish insults.
Someone didn't read past the headline before commenting ...
Realistic-938726
And...what do you know about American history ?
You are just a moron !
@Imoen, you know too much, you are already on the list of Department of Homeland Security:)
BTW, is Imoen is that thief-mage girl?
I think the writers of the article don't understand about being thankful. To be thankful does not mean you see the world with rose-colored glasses, not seeing the negatives, the problems, or doing anything about them. It has to do with your attitude. It is still finding the good even when there is bad. It is not ignoring or blinding yourself to the bad.
As to people being willing to accept criticism, if you have a boss, teacher, friend, or anyone else you regularly deal with who is always critical no matter what, after awhile you tune out him or her because you cannot tell what is actually valid. Some of us even find having someone give us honest feedback, whether it is good or bad, to be something to be thankful for because that allows us to make needed changes.
Some of the most thankful and positive people I know are those who are well aware of the bad things around them and are actively seeking to change the world for the better.
There is a GREAT difference between constructive critisim and whining.
Constructive critisism is needed to improve. It involves idenitfying the problem and stating how to fix it.
Whining is just showing how poor your attitude is. It is just complaints.
In order to change the system you have to acknowledge what's wrong with it. Sadly, even if anyone complains or protests, it will remain in a state of denial and delusion. Oh well, it will all come out at Armageddon.
Since a recent study showed that carrying heavy shopping bags increases negative thinking, maybe this is encouragement to buy more hefty objects at the mall. If negative thoughts are good then PTSD victims sure are the lucky ones. I can really see how nightmares would also be constructive. Yes, having negative thoughts about things we dislike allow us to make change for the better. The thoughts themselves are rarely constructive otherwise.
I'm glad to see an article that isn't full of everything rose-colored. Constant complaining and negativity gets old, but so do the fake smiles, fake laughs, and the "everything is fine" phrase we're expected to use whether we're at work, out shopping, eating out, etc.
It may all be considered positive thinking, but it isn't hard to see how much fake happiness there is in the world. We've turned into robots who aren't allowed to have sadness, negative emotions, etc.
Amen, Penelope2!
You don't watch the new do you? Everything is doom and gloom there. Imagine if we had the 24 hour news cycle during world war 2?
oops...meant news...
and besides, negative thoughts are alive and kicking...just read any talkback on any article :)
I hate being asked the same question when you have told the person the answer on multiple occasions. After the 5th time I just say "You know the answer it's somewhere in your brain figure it out"
Thanksgiving is not for negative thinkers. What holiday is.? What a STUPID article. the editor should be terminated
RR, it's good to see you've taken the message of article to heart, and put it into practice. As the article says:
I keep trying to enter my comment, but this isn't working right! Now that is a complaint, that I hope someone will see and fix so a positive can come from it.
This is now about the 10th time I've tried to enter my comment. That's a complaint. It can become a positive if this now works! Some people enjoy complaining. They love the negative. I think some are so unhappy in their lives they wouldn't see a positive if it slapped them in the face. For others, complaints do bring about change. They see an opportunity to change something for the better, and do it.
I cant wait to show this study to miss positive vibes only.
Are they actually paid to come up with TWO facts? Both of which everyone knew! Maybe it's good some young people can't find jobs anymore -- it will help us separate the parasites from those who might actually have something to offer rather than daddy paid for college and the government is paying for "research jobs.".
This was supposed to be a reply to someone but because I was logged out when replying it auto placed my reply at the bottom of the pile as a new response. Lame. Can't delete my own comments so I'm just typing over it because I don't care to post what I had intended to post any longer. This forum behavior has been like this for EVER. I've complained about it before to no avail. Super annoying. WHINE B*TCH MOAN! I'M SO NEGATIVE! There. My response now sort of has a tie in to the article.
I am going to print, frame, and hang this article for all to see. When anyone questions my "negative attitude" I am going to simply point to the framed article and tell them to bite me.
Complaining or whining accomplishes absolutely nothing and it unproductive. Yes, we all do it but what does it really accomplish. I find complaining and whining exhausting and most people do not like a complainer or whiner. Thanksgiving should be a day to reflect and be thankful, even though everyday I'm thankful for what I have. The Occupy protesters are just that a bunch of complainer and whiner, who are accomplishing nothing but a mess, inflating cities and counties budgets and just causing trouble for the general populace.
I had the same reaction NormalPerson! Love this article! Does that mean I've lost my "negative attitude"? I guess I could point out the irony of negative responses to an article about negative thinking ... but then I enjoy that irony. Geez, I guess I'm a little too thankful and positive after all, but tomorrow's Monday so I'm sure I will be cured soon.
Can anyone say "Festivus" with the airing of the grievences, plain aluminum pole, feats of strength, etc. etc. Maybe Seinfeld and company were on to something.
So negative thoughts are good. I always assumed positive thoughts are good. So my thoughts good, bad, or downright ugly are good. So no matter what I think or dwell on it is all good. This study kind of flies in the face of traditional thought and the beliefs we have held to be true for a long time. For example, I guess we will have to put these sage quotes on the trash heap of history:
"A man is but the product of his thoughts, what he thinks he becomes." Gandhi
"We are what we think." Buddha
"Whatever a person's mind dwells on intensely and with firm resolve, that is exactly what he becomes." Shankaracharya
Wow! Now bad thoughts are considered good. How far we have come as a civilized society?!
could I start by complaining about this crappy article? Why aren't you covering real news? Is your worth to MSNBC really so bad they have you writing this tripe--- and worse your self esteem so low that you actually do write it?
If I were you I would be out demonstrating with the 99% because you're going to be unemployed soon.
I believe venting is good and has the possibility of being constructive. Counting your blessings is also good and can really put things into perspective.
I had to read this article based on the title, because when our family gets together to give thanks for our meal, their is always someone there thinking, "Geez, I really want to complain about something, and now that I'm with my family, no one will really listen anyway". I think I will call this meal "Complaintsgiving" instead of "Thanksgiving!" lol -- My complaint at dinner is really just in my mind. Ah heck, I think I will ignore my own mind since it really won't do any good. "Pass the frick'in gravy" as he is chewing his overly dry-cooked turkey!
Because of the Republicans and the Wall Street BANKSTERS, it will be Ramen Noodles for Thanksgiving and Ramen Noodles for Christmas.
Its very easy to be negative around thanksgiving and christmas too. I am barely making ends meet. So being negative around the holidays is very easy....
I am always thankful on January 2nd, it means there will be no more holidays until June.
Hey ! Where does it say you can't be thankful and piss & moan at the same time. I'm old. That's what I do.
Well, I have been reading about people looking forward to the fiestas Thursday, as usual. This is the first article I have read about b*tching and moaning over a holiday though.
I don't have any complaints, its just another day. Having trouble making up my mind if I want to make cheese burgers or bacon wrapped hot dogs and french fries for dinner. Got plenty of beer, no need to go to the store for that . . . Nothing is going to be open so . . .
Claptrap and bull$hit. A waste of frigging money and time to prove something that our grandparents told us before we ever made it to high school. Oh yes, Contrail, you're a man (or woman) after my own heart. <G> Damn, I forgot to blame the government for .............. something, well that's OK, I'll get'em next time.