A rage room is a business where you can pay to smash things. It also goes by the name:
- Smash room,
- Wreck room,
- Anger room,
- Destruction room,
- Break room,
- Demolition room,
- Smash house, or
- Break stuff room.
Some people find them fun and exciting, while others see them as a therapeutic outlet.
But how did rage rooms start? How do they work? What do psychologists think of them? And what are the pros and cons of using them?
In this article, we will answer these questions and more.
How Rage Rooms Work
You can use this information to experience a rage room for the first time:
- Find a rage room in your area.
- Make an appointment.
- Choose the items you want to break.
- You will pay based on the duration and the number of items.
- Wear protective gear and get a weapon, such as a bat or a hammer.
- Some rage rooms offer protective gear; others don’t. Please confirm with the rage room near you before visiting.
- Once you’re in, you will enter a room with reinforced walls. This is where the smashing begins.
- You can also scream, play music, or bring your own items to break.
Evolution of Rage Rooms
Rage rooms are a relatively new phenomenon, but they have roots in older forms of destruction therapy.
Destruction therapy, or destructo therapy, is breaking objects to express and release negative emotions. It was developed in the late 1990s by a Spanish psychologist named Pedro García Aguado, who used it to treat stress and anxiety in his patients.
However, a group of entrepreneurs in Japan created the first rage room.
In 2008, they opened The Venting Place in Tokyo, where customers could pay to destroy office equipment. The idea was to offer a service for people who were frustrated with their work and wanted to vent their anger safely and legally.
The concept of rage rooms soon spread to other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It attracted customers from various backgrounds and demographics, with different reasons and motivations.
Today, rage rooms have evolved from niche therapy to mainstream entertainment. They have also become a subject of media attention, academic research, and public debate.
Increasing Demand for Rage Rooms
The demand for rage rooms has continually increased in the past five years. You can see the interest in the “Rage Room” topic worldwide.
But why are people so attracted to rage rooms?
We asked 59 people and got one of the following reasons:
- They help relieve stress.
- People love the thrill of breaking things.
- People are curious and love new and unique experiences.
Despite the positives, rage rooms are not without controversy and criticism.
Mental Health Concerns
While it’s all fun, stress-relieving, new, and helps to bond with your loved ones, experts have an opinion about the rage rooms.
This medically reviewed article at VeryWellMind says:
While venting anger is often seen as a way to effectively relief feelings of frustration and stress, research has actually found that blowing off steam through physical acts of aggression and violence makes your anger worse.
VeryWellMind
Another article written by a researcher at Psychology Today says:
When you spend time thumping an inanimate object, like a pillow, or beating nonliving things in a rage room, you are conditioning yourself to quickly become aggressive next time your anxiety levels rise.
Kevin Bennett Ph.D.
So, if you’re visiting a rage room for fun, be my guest. But if you’re angry, you must seek counsel or use other anger management techniques instead of taking it out on objects.
Wrapping It Up
Rage rooms are a great, fun experience for those who are looking for a change in their boring lives. Smashing stuff for entertainment or just for the knack of breaking things is great.
It can also help to relieve stress.
However, if you’re using it to manager anger issues, it’s not recommended because psychologists claim that it can make things worse for you.
It all comes down to what you’re using rage rooms for.
