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　　标题：10BadHabitsThatSometimesDoUsGood
　　作者：MarkD。GriffithsPh。D。
　　原文链接：https：www。psychologytoday。combloginexcess20151010badhabitssometimesdousgood
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　　Allofushavebadhabits，andallofusfromtimetotimefeelguiltyaboutthesehabits。Buttherearesomebadhabitsatleastwhencarriedoutinmoderationthatmightactuallyhavebenefitsforpsychologicalandorphysicalwellbeing。Mostbadhabitshelpchangeourmoodstateandreducestress（atleastintheveryshortterm）buttendtobecomelesshelpfulthemoretheyareengagedin。Someofthesebadhabitsturnintoaddictionswheretheshorttermbenefitsareoutweighedbythelongtermcosts。However，therearemanyactivitiesthatcansometimeshaveunexpectedbenefitsandsomeoftheseareoutlinedinthisarticle。
　　（1）Fidgetinghelpsburncalories
　　Whilefidgetingmightbeannoyingforindividualsandthosearoundthem，itisanactivitythatexpendsenergyandburnscalories。Fidgetingisoneofanumberofactivities（alongwithwalking，gardening，typing，tidyingup，etc。）thatareknownasnonexerciseactivitythermogenesis（NEAT）。Inbasicterms，NEATisanyactivitythatisnoteating，sleeping，orsportingexercise。AnumberofstudiescarriedoutbyobesityexpertDr。JamesLevineattheUSMayoClinic（Arizona，US）haveshownthatindividualswhofidgetburnupabout350kcaladay。Thisisbecausefidgetingspeedsupanindividual’smetabolismbystimulatingneurochemicalsinthebodythusincreasingtheabilitytoconvertbodyfatintoenergy。So，ifyouareacompulsivefoottapper，anexcessivethumbtwiddler，orarestlessdoodler，justrememberthatalloftheseactivitiesburncalories。
　　（2）Chewinggumhelpsboostthinkingandalertness
　　Watchingpeoplechewgumisnotaprettysight，butifEnglishfootballmanagersareanythingtogoby，chewinggumappearstobeastressrelievingactivity。Infact，thereappeartoappeartobemanycognitivebenefitsofchewinggum。Dr。KinyaKuboandcolleaguesinthebookSenescenceandSenescenceRelatedDisordersnotedthatchewinggumimmediatelybeforeperformingacognitivetaskincreasesbloodoxygenlevelsintheprefrontalcortexandhippocampus（importantbrainstructuresinvolvedinlearningandmemory），therebyimprovingtaskperformance。Dr。Kuboarguesthatchewinggummaythereforebeadrugfreeandsimplemethodofhelpingthosewithseniledementiaandstressrelateddisordersthatareoftenassociatedwithcognitivedysfunction。AnotherstudybyDr。YoshiyukiHiranoandcolleaguesshowedthatchewinggumbooststhinkingandalertness，andthatreactiontimesamongchewerswere10fasterthannonchewers。Theresearchteamalsoreportedthatuptoeightareasofthebrainareaffectedbychewing（mostnotablytheareasconcerningattentionandmovement）。AsProfessorAndySmith（CardiffUniversity，UK）neatlysummedup：Theeffectsofchewingonreactiontimeareprofound。Perhapsfootballmanagersarrivedattheideaofchewinggumbyaccident，buttheyseemtobeontherighttrack。
　　（3）Playingvideogameshelpsrelievepain
　　Manyindividualswhodonotplayvideogamesviewtheactivityasacompletewasteoftimeandpotentiallyaddictive。Whileexcessivevideogameplayingmaycauseproblemsinaminorityofindividuals，thereisalotofscientificevidencethatplayingvideogamescanhavebeneficialeffects。Forinstance，anumberofstudieshaveshownthatchildrenwithcancerwhoplayvideogamesafterchemotherapytakelesspainkillingmedication。Videogameshavealsobeenusedaspainrelievingtherapyforothermedicalconditionssuchasburnsvictimsandthosewithbackpain。Thisisbecauseplayingvideogamesisanengagingandengrossingactivitythatmeanstheplayercannotthinkaboutanythingelsebutplayingthegame（andiswhatpsychologistsrefertoasa‘cognitivedistractortask’）。Painhasalargepsychologicalcomponentandindividualsexperiencelesspainifthepersonisengagedinanactivitythattakesupalltheircognitivemindspace。Aswellasbeingapainreliever，therearealsomanystudiesshowingthatplayingvideogamesincreasehandeyecoordination，increasereactiontimes，andhaveeducationallearningbenefits。
　　（4）Eatingsnothelpsstrengthentheimmunesystem（maybe）
　　Howdoesitmakeyoufeelwhenyouseesomeonepickingtheirnoseandtheneatingwhattheyhavefound？Disgust？Contempt？Amused？In2008，Dr。FriedrichBischinger，anAustrianlungspecialist，claimedthatpickingyournoseandeatingitwasgoodforyou。Heclaimedthatpeoplewhopicktheirnoseswiththeirfingerswerehealthy，happierandprobablybetterintunewiththeirbodiesthanthosewhodidn’t。Dr。Bischingerbelievedthateatingthedryremainsofwhatyoupulloutofyournoseisagreatwayofstrengtheningthebodysimmunesystem。Heexplainedthatintermsoftheimmunesystem，thenoseisafilterinwhichagreatdealofbacteriaarecollected，andwhenthismixturearrivesintheintestinesitworksjustlikeamedicine。Hesaidthatpeoplewhopicktheirnoseandeatitgetanaturalboosttotheirimmunesystemforfree。Iwouldrecommendanewapproachwherechildrenareencouragedtopicktheirnose。Itisacompletelynaturalresponseandmedicallyagoodideaaswell。Hewentontosuggestthatifanyonewasworriedaboutwhatotherpeoplethink，theyshouldpicktheirnosesprivatelyiftheywanttogetthebenefits。ThisviewisalsosharedbyDr。ScottNapper，abiochemistattheUniversityofSaskatchewan。Hetheorisesthathygieneimprovementhasledtotheincreaseinallergiesandautoimmunedisordersandthateatingsnotmayboosttheimmunesystembyingestingsmallandharmlessamountsofgermsintothebody。Thesametheoryhasalsobeenappliedtoanotherbadhabitbitingfingernailsbecauseagain，theactofbitingnailsintroducesgermsdirectlyintoaperson’sorifices。
　　（5）Daydreaminghelpsproblemsolving
　　Daydreamingissomethingthatcanoccupyuptoonethirdofourwakinglivesandisoftenviewedasasignoflaziness，inattentivenessandorprocrastination。However，scientificresearchhasshownthatthe‘executivenetwork’inourbrainishighlyactivewhenwedaydream。AstudycarriedoutbyProfessorKalinaChristoffandcolleaguesandpublishedintheProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofSciencesfoundactivityinnumerousbrainregionswhiledaydreaming，includingareasassociatedwithcomplexproblemsolving。Thesebrainregionsweremoreactiveduringadaydreamcomparedtoduringroutinetasks。Itisbelievedthatwhenanindividualusesconsciousthoughttheycanbecometoorigidandlimitedintheirthinking。Thefindingssuggestthatdaydreamingisanimportantcognitivestatewhereindividualsturntheirattentionfromimmediatetaskstounconsciouslythinkaboutproblemsintheirlives。Christoffsaysthatwhenyoudaydream，youmaynotbeachievingyourimmediategoalsayreadingabookorpayingattentioninclassbutyourmindmaybetakingthattimetoaddressmoreimportantquestionsinyourlife，suchasadvancingyourcareerorpersonalrelationships。Inadditiontothis，Dr。EricKlingeroftheUniversityofMinnesotahasarguedthatdaydreamingalsoservesanevolutionarypurpose。Whenindividualsareengagedononetask，daydreamingcantriggerremindersofother，concurrentgoalssothattheydonotlosesightofthem。
　　（6）Swearinghelpsreducepainandrelieveworkstress
　　Althoughswearinghasbecomeincreasinglycommonplace，mostpeoplewouldagreeitisabadhabit。However，researchhasshownthatswearingcanhelpalleviatepain。InanexperimentalstudyledbyDr。RichardStephens（atKeeleUniversity，UK）inthejournalNeuroreport，resultsshowedthatindividualswhoswore（comparedtoindividualsthatdidn’t）couldendurethepainofputtingtheirhandinabucketoficecoldwaternearly50longer（nearlytwominutesforthosethatsworecomparedtooneminute15secondsforthosethatsaidaneutralnonswearwordinstead）。Dr。Stephensthoughtoftheideafordoingthestudyafteraccidentallyhittinghisthumbwithahammerwhilebuildingagardenshedandrealizingthatsimultaneousswearingappearedtohelpreducethepain。Theresearchersspeculatedthatswearingmighttriggerournaturalfightorflightresponsebydownplayingaweaknessorthreatinordertodealwithit。However，thereappearstobeacaveat。Swearingmayonlybeeffectiveinhelpingreducepainifitisacasualhabit。Dr。Stephenscautionedthatswearingisemotionallanguagebutifindividualsoveruseit，swearinglosesitsemotionalattachment，andislesslikelytohelpalleviatepain。ResearchpublishedintheLeadershipandOrganizationDevelopmentJournalbyProfessorYehudaBaruch（UniversityofEastAnglia，U。K。）foundthatregularuseofswearingexpressedandreinforcedsolidarityamongstaffmembers。Theactsofprofanityenabledemployeestoexpresstheirfeelings，suchasfrustration，anddevelopsocialrelationships。
　　（7）Beingmessyhelpsboostcreativity
　　Beingmessywhetherit’samessyworkdeskoramessybedroomhasoftenperceivedasasignofbeingdisorganized。However，recentAmericanresearchpublishedinthejournalPsychologicalSciencebyDr。KathleenVohsandcolleagues（attheCarlsonSchoolofManagement，UniversityofMinnesota）suggeststhatbeingmessycanboostcreativity。Vohsandherteamcarriedoutanumberofexperimentsandpublishedtheminapaperentitled‘Physicalorderproduceshealthychoices，generosity，andconventionality，whereasdisorderproducescreativity。’Inoneoftheexperiments，48participantswereassignedtoeitheramessyortidyroom。Participantswereaskedtothinkupasmanyusesforpingpongballsastheycouldandtowritethemdown。Independentjudgesthenratedtheparticipants’answersfordegreeofcreativity。Resultsshowedthatparticipantsinbothtidyandmessyroomsproducedthesamenumberofideas，butthosegeneratingideasinthemessyroomweremorecreative。Thoseinthemessyroomwere（onaverage）28morecreativeandwerefivetimesmorelikelytoproducehighlycreativeideas。Dr。Vohsconcludedthatmessinessandcreativityareverystronglycorrelated，andthatwhilecleaningupcertainlyhasitsbenefits，cleanspacesmightbetooconventionaltoletinspirationflow。
　　（8）Havingalieinhelpsreduceheartattacksandstrokes
　　Whiletheoldproverbthat‘theearlybirdcatchestheworm’mightbetrue，theoldsaying‘earlytobed，earlytorise，makesamanhealthyandwise’maynotbe。AccordingtoDr。MayukoKadono，aJapanesephysicianatKyotoPrefecturalUniversityofMedicine，gettinguptooearlyinthemorningmayhaveserioushealthconsequences。Kadonohasledanumberofstudiesonsleepanditsrelationshipwithhealth。Inoneofhisstudiesof3，017healthyadults，itwasreportedthatthoseindividualsgettingupbefore5a。m。andengaginginvigorousexercisehavea1。7timesgreaterriskofhighbloodpressureandweretwiceaslikelytodevelopcardiovasculardiseaseasthosewhogotuptwotothreehourslater。Thenumberofhourssleptdidnotmakeadifference，onlythetimeofgettingup。Dr。Kadonosaidtheresultswerecontrarytothecommonlyheldbeliefthatearlybirdsareinbetterhealth。Weneedtofindwhatthecausesofthisare，andwhetherexercisingafterwakingearlyisbeneficial。AstudyconductedbyAmericanresearchersatStanfordUniversityfoundthatthemostrestorativesleepoccursbetween2：00a。m。and6：30a。m。Moregeneralresearchhasfoundthatgettingenoughsleepcanhelpindividuals’reducetheirstressandboosttheirmemory。Inshort，it’sbettertowakeupwhenyourbodyfeelsreadytogetup（i。e。，aligningwithyourbody’snaturalcircadianrhythm）ratherthanwakingupbecauseyouralarmclockhasgoneoff。
　　（9）Gossipinghelpsfriendshipsandrelievesstress
　　Gossipingisoftenperceivedasamaliciousanduntrustworthybehaviorbutmostindividualsappeartolikegossipingparticularlyifitisaboutthemisfortunesofsomeoneelse。Oneofthereasonsweliketohearaboutotherpeople’sproblemsisthatitmakesusfeelbetteraboutourselves。However，thereisalsoagrowingamountofpsychologicalresearchshowingthatgossipingmayactuallyhavepositivebenefits。Gossipingisimportantinhelpingusbondwithotherpeople，promotingcooperation，friendship，andlearningaboutculturalnorms。Theseconsequencesofgossipmakeusfeelgood，andwhenwefeelgoodithelpsusrelievestress，tension，andanxiety。InarecentAmericanstudypublishedinthejournalPsychologicalSciencebyDr。MatthewFeinberg（StanfordUniversity）andcolleagues，itwasreportedthatgossipandostracismcanhavepositiveeffectswithingroupsituations。AccordingtoFeinberg，groupsthatallowtheirmemberstogossipsustaincooperationanddeterselfishnessbetterthanthosethatdont。Andgroupsdoevenbetteriftheycangossipandostracizeuntrustworthymembers。Whilebothofthesebehaviorscanbemisused，〔the〕findingssuggestthattheyalsoserveveryimportantfunctionsforgroupsandsociety。TheevolutionarypsychologistDr。RobinDunbar（UniversityofOxford，U。K。）notesthatbecauselanguageisprincipallyusedfortheexchangeofsocialinformationandthatsuchtopicsaresooverwhelminglyimportant，heconcludesthatgossipiswhatmakeshumansocietyasweknowitpossible。
　　（10）Burpingandfartinghelprelievebloatingandstomachpain
　　Burpingandfartingmaywellbeviewedasbadhabits，butbothareanormalpartofthebodydigestionprocess，bothactshelpreleaseunwantedgasthatbuildsupinsidethestomach，andbotharevitalforgoodgastrichealth。Fartingisparticularlybeneficialforrelievingbloatingandpreventingoneselffrombreakingwindcanbeincrediblypainful。DrNickRead，aBritishconsultantgastroenterologistwarnsIfyoudon’tbelchandthegasstaysonthestomach，thiscancausethevalvethatseparatesthegulletandthestomachtorelax，allowingstomachacidtosplashupintothegullet，triggeringheartburn。InrelationtofartingheaddedWeevacuatewindforareasonitformsinthebowelandweneedtogetridofit。Holdingitbackcanalsotriggerpain。AcolleagueusedtocallitMetropolitanRailwaySyndromeallthesecommuterssufferedpainandbloatingbecausetheyweretooembarrassedtobreakwindonpublictransport。Allthisleadstotheconclusionthatit’stheactofnotburpingorfartingthatshouldbeconsideredbadhabits。AsIwasoftentoldbyoneofmyaunts：It’sbetteroutthanin。