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Speaking of Psychology

Expressive writing can help your mental health, with James Pennebaker, PhD

Speaking of Psychology

Kim Mills

Health & Fitness, Life Sciences, Science, Mental Health

4.3781 Ratings

🗓️ 13 March 2024

⏱️ 45 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Writing can be a powerful tool to help people work through challenges in their lives and improve their mental health. James Pennebaker, PhD, of the University of Texas at Austin, talks about why expressive writing can be good for mental health and how to try it. He also discusses his research on language use, and how analyzing the words that people use in their daily lives can offer insights into their emotions, motivations and personality. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

It's only natural for parents to have questions about their kids and gaming.

0:05.6

Meet parental controls for Nintendo Switch.

0:08.7

You can set your own rules for the family right from your phone with a free app.

0:13.1

Monitor playtime, set age restrictions, limit online purchases and more.

0:17.8

That means you can relax and spend more time having fun.

0:21.8

Their games, your rules.

0:23.9

Nintendo Switch, available now.

0:26.4

Internet connection required to use this app.

0:28.5

Data charges may apply.

0:30.9

Have you ever kept a diary?

0:33.3

For many people, journaling is a lifetime habit.

0:37.1

Others may turn to it in moments of stress or during major life transitions.

0:41.6

But in fact, psychologist research suggests that we all might want to consider occasionally writing about our lives,

0:48.1

even those of us who don't consider ourselves writers. That's because researchers have found that expressive writing can improve people's mental

0:55.3

and even their physical health and can help us work through challenges in our lives. Today we're

1:00.7

going to talk about why that is. We're also going to talk about the power of words more generally

1:05.9

and about how the words we use can offer insights into our emotions, motivations, and personality.

1:12.6

So why does writing about our lives improve our mental health?

1:16.6

Do you have to write every day to see these effects?

1:19.6

Does it matter how a person writes?

1:21.6

Are there guidelines to follow if you want to try it?

1:24.6

And how does language connect to emotions, motivations, and personality?

...

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