The flip side of negative traits
We tend to think of certain personality traits in black and white terms. A sense of humor, for instance, may be considered highly valuable, while swearing is certainly not. Recently, however, researchers are finding upsides to our perceived faults. In moderation, some experts say, certain flaws can actually be strengths.
Gossip
Swapping the latest juicy tidbits about David Letterman’s extramarital affair may seem unkind. But as long as you know when to keep your mouth shut (that means not spreading rumors about your boss), gossiping about other people may help you bond with peers and could even teach you valuable lessons about your own relationships. “We are naturally fascinated by other people,” says Frank McAndrew, a professor of psychology at Knox College who studies the habit. “In fact, gossiping is part of human nature.”
Cursing
Parents may cover a child’s ears when they curse to shield them, but using expletives at the right moment has an upside. According to a 2009 study published in NeuroReport, belting out a curse word can actually alleviate pain. The researchers found that student volunteers who kept their hands immersed in cold water while shouting a curse of their choice reported feeling less pain than those who did not swear. Although it’s unclear exactly how swearing increases our pain tolerance, the researchers found that cursing elevates our heart rate, which they believe may activate a stress response that dulls how much pain we experience.
Worrying
What if I get dumped? What happens if I lose my job? Worrywarts can obsess about the potential downsides to any situation, often hindering their success. However, according to new research, worrying can actually motivate you to push yourself to, for example, study extra hours for a test or work longer days to make a deadline. In 2005, psychologists at Stanford University found that more anxious individuals who worried before taking a test actually got higher scores than less anxious participants. Even smokers may benefit from a little worry. A 2007 study in the journal Cognition and Emotion revealed that smokers may be more convinced to quit if they become concerned about the risks associated with cigarettes.
Sadness
Although unpleasant, feeling down in the dumps can actually help people make better, more rational decisions. “In fact, sadness may have evolved, in part, to help people deal with bad situations,” says Yoel Inbar, a postdoctoral fellow in the Harvard Decision Science Laboratory. In 2009, Inbar and his colleagues found that people who felt sad (after watching a tearjerker or playing melancholic music) fared better in a simple statistics game than their counterparts. “Feeling sad made people more logical and careful thinkers,” Inbar says.
