Vandana Sahu addresses at the workshop. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Feb. 23: Over 30 members of International Library and Cultural Centre (ILCC) today attended a workshop, “Channelling Anger into Performance”, where Vandana Sahu, an educational psychologist spoke on the need to control anger and the different ways one could do it.

The response to the workshop was positive, as Vandana tried to simplify the whole process of anger management through the play way method.

She began by identifying the various reasons that usually caused us anger, where she asked those present to jot down three instances when they had been unable to control their anger.

Once they had identified the instances and categorised them under various heads, Vandana explained her three-step plan through which they could control their anger.

According to Vandana, almost all the problems could be categorised under two major categories — injustice and incompetence.

The problem identified, the next step involved probing deeper into it. The third and the last step involved learning the various techniques through which anger could be controlled. “Learning to empathise with the needs of others and their problems is probably the best way to control anger,” she explained.

“Empathy is probably the best way to curb the outcome of anger. We should all learn to identify ourselves and understand the other person’s situation, feelings and motives. If we are able to do it successfully, the outburst of anger from within us will not be as forceful,” she added.

Time-out, according to Vandana, is another way by which one could control one’s anger. Explaining this method further, she said: “This technique involves separating oneself from the condition that had triggered the anger.

“At the same time, this method also provides one enough time to cool down and regain one’s composure and think about the cause more clearly. It helps one to see the situation in a different perspective.”

Detachment and humour always work, was her advice to the participants, whose response enthusiastic and who remained engrossed till the end.