It’s June and it’s somehow still freezing.
You couldn’t blame anyone for being in bad form but some folks are just permanently cranky.
They may not be the most pleasant to be around but it turns out that their outlook on life could seriously stand to them.
Being grumpy has been linked to earning more money and living longer.
A study at the University of Amsterdam that was designed to get people feeling annoyed had some interesting results.
Researchers divided participants into two groups, with one asked to write an essay about something that pissed them off. The other group took part in an activity designed to make them to feel sad.
Then, both groups took part in brainstorms to test their creativity. The group that was annoyed came up with more ideas than the others.
“Angry volunteers were better at moments of haphazard innovation, or so-called unstructured’ thinking,” said lead researcher Matthijs Bass.
“Anger really prepares the body to mobilise resources – it tells you that the situation you’re in is bad and gives you an energetic boost to get you out of it.”
Another study conducted at the University of New South Wales in Australia found that people in a mood were less like to be gullible and better at making decisions.
“Negative moods indicate we’re in a new and challenging situation and call for a more attentive, detailed and observant thinking style,” researcher Joseph Forgas said.
Further research by the BBC found that grumpy people tend to be better negotiators and to earn more.
They are also less likely to have a heart attack, in more stable relationships and live longer than others.
In a time when we’re all told that being positive is key, it’s nice to know that being in bad form could help you in life.
