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Feeling grumpy 'is good for you'

An Australian psychology expert who has been studying emotions has found being grumpy makes us think more clearly.

In contrast to the more happy-go-lucky types, miserable people are both less gullible and better at decision-making, his experiments showed.

While cheerfulness fosters creativity, gloominess breeds attentiveness and careful thinking, Professor Joe Forgas told Australian Science Magazine.

He said: “Whereas positive mood seems to promote creativity, flexibility, co-operation and reliance on mental shortcuts, negative moods trigger more attentive, careful thinking, paying greater attention to the external world.”

The study also found that sad people were better at stating their case through written arguments, which Forgas said showed that a “mildly negative mood may actually promote a more concrete, accommodative and ultimately more successful communication style”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .