Ever felt a sense of connection after someone shared a tough experience with you? Or feel that you are frustrated with the person who vents? The difference between the two is how it is being conveyed. Connection is made when the listener can empathize with the venter’s struggles. However, if it is done in an excessive way, the listener will feel overwhelmed or burdened by their negativity, which can make it harder to connect.
Research shows that social venting can do more than relieve frustration. It has the power to sway listeners into supporting the venter (the person sharing their frustrations). The study implies that listeners may change their actions based on what they hear during the venting. The listener could even support the venter, distancing from who is being talked about or taking actions on the targeted person.
How do you vent effectively so that the audience supports you?
The study finds social venting benefits the venters. Unlike normal venting, which is simply done to release one’s emotions to feel better, social venting is shared with others to gain support or connection from others. While both types are self-serving, social venting is more towards that since it is to relieve one’s stress and gain others’ support.
The study suggests that when people vent, they can share their complaints in a way that doesn’t seem aggressive. This approach can subtly influence the listener’s thoughts and actions, making them more likely to support the person who’s venting. In other words, social venting can be a smart way to gain backing from others.
Interestingly, even though this type of venting makes others support you, it does not necessarily reduce anger in oneself. Instead of calming down, venting to others can sometimes keep the anger alive or even make it worse because it keeps the focus on the negative feelings. Since social venting involves others joining in, it often adds more fuel to the anger, making the emotions more intensified.
Social venting makes it sound a lot more genuine
Audiences support venters as the venter opens up about their feelings. Venting that involves vulnerability and relatability will make the listeners often relate to their experiences. This approach makes them more inclined to side with the venter rather than the person being vented about.
This understanding helps build a bond between the venter and the listeners. Additionally, venters can be more likable when venting is done right. Simply put, the venters should be honest and vulnerable and make the stories relatable to their listeners. This approach can evoke sympathy and support from others.
Researchers also investigated further and conducted six experiments with 1,723 participants. They discovered that when someone vents, listeners often develop a preference for the venter over the target of the venting (the person being criticized). The findings also showed that individuals who were liked more received more support and benefits compared to the targets of their complaints.
While this type of venting can make the listeners support you, the study does not mention if this approach is healthy. Venting can be healthy if the venter is socially aware of how their behavior could impact the listener. When it is done excessively, the listeners may focus more on the venters’ thoughts and feelings rather than the original issues being discussed. In turn, this may shift the attention towards the venter instead of the target and will cause an emotional response.
Conclusions
Social venting is a powerful way to share feelings and gain support from others. When someone talks about their struggles in a relatable and honest way, listeners are more likely to feel empathy and want to help. However, it’s important to be careful not to overwhelm others with too much negativity. If venting happens too often, it can shift the focus away from the real issues and keep anger alive instead of resolving it. To make social venting effective, it’s essential to share feelings while also being aware of how it affects those listening. By doing this, people can build strong connections and handle their emotions in a healthier way.
