Rage Rooms

Rage Rooms

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Questions on My Mind about the Psychology of Rage Rooms

  1. Are there items that people are more or less likely to destroy in a rage room? I’d imagine, for example, that a glass window would be more cathartic to destroy than glass mirror, simply because of the associated superstition.
  2. Can the design of a rage room affect the aggressive behaviour that people will have? There are studies that show how people are more likely to litter in places where litter already exists. So I wonder if people would go harder on rage rooms that look run down.
  3. What does research say about catharsis through physical aggression? I think I remember something about study on children beating up an inflatable clown.
  4. What research has been done comparing pre and post rage room psychological and neurological states? I think the idea of “carwash rooms” could be an interesting one to dive into. The types of rooms where people enter in one psychological state and exit in another.
  5. What are the neurological and psychological differences between planned and instinctual acts of aggression? I wonder if people who enter a rage room with a specific cause of their anger in mind exit the room with a higher degree of catharsis.
  6. Can we experience the same psychological release by simply watching someone in a rage room? Relating to the topic of mirror neurons perhaps.
  7. What would a room designed to make people angry look like? For example, anti-aesthetics of joy or reverse police pink rooms.
  8. What pre rage room scenarios could be designed to deter the amount of aggression displayed in a rage room? I’m imagining, for example, having puppy petting foyer before entering a rage room.
  9. What pre rage room scenarios could be designed to increase the amount of aggression displayed in a rage room? For example, watching an action movie or having an arm wrestling contest.
  10. Are there psychological benefits of experiencing anger? I’ve read studies, for example, that show how eco-anger (as opposed to eco-anxiety) is correlated with better mental health outcomes, more engagement with pro-climate activism, and higher well being.
  11. What would happen if we primed rage room participants with an angry/anger-inducing person in the waiting room?
  12. How long do the effects of rage rooms last?
  13. What would a passive rage room look like? One that provided catharsis without active aggression.
  14. How can music be used to influence rage room behaviour? Could screamo concerts or mosh pits serve the same or a similar psychological function to rage rooms.
  15. How would being observed influence rage room behaviour? Like how the Hawthorne Effect refers to how people modify their behaviour because they know they’re being observed.

References that come to mind

  • Bobo the clown: blow up doll
  • Catharsis
  • Andy from The Office punching wall
  • The Purge
  • Dart boards with enemies faces on it
    • Matilda
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I wonder what preceding scenarios could soften aggression in rage rooms?

Ex. if we spent 5 mins in a puppy petting room beforehand, would we then destroy things with less verve?

And if so, I wonder what rooms in the world could benefit from always having a puppy petting foyer?

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