WASHINGTON – Whining isn’t just annoying, it’s bad for the brain.
Research shows that just a half hour of exposure to complaining hurts the part of the brain responsible for problem solving says Trevor Blake, author of “.”
“So if you’re pinned in a corner for too long listening to someone being negative, you’re more likely to behave that way as well,” Blake tells .
Even passive listening can damage the brain and most complainers aren’t looking for a solution to the problem, they just want someone to share the pain, Blake says.
He offers some tips for defending oneself from the negativity:
- Move away from the person who’s complaining. Blake likens this approach to moving away from someone who is smoking.
- Ask the complainer to fix the problem. “I typically respond to a complaint with, ‘What are you going to do about it?'” he says.
- Put up a mental block. Blake suggests techniques to free the mind, like imagining a favorite place.
has more on whining and its effect on the brain.
草莓传媒’s David Burd contributed to this report. Follow and on Twitter.
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