Computer rage: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:37, 29 September 2018

Revision as of 19:03, 30 January 2019

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== Notable cases ==

In April 2015, a Colorado man was cited for firing a gun within a residential area when he took his computer into a back alley and shot it eight times with a 9mm pistol.<ref name=":0">{{Cite webnews|title = Enraged Man Shoots Computer Eight Times|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/22/man-shoots-computer-eight-times_n_7119246.html|websitenewspaper = [[The Huffington Post]]|accessdate = 2015-11-03|date = 2015-04-22|last1 = Grenoble|first1 = Ryan}}</ref> When questioned, he told police that he had become so frustrated with his computer that he had "reached critical mass," and stated that after he had shot his computer, "the angels sung on high."<ref>{{Cite web|title = Colorado man ticketed for shooting his computer; says it was worth it|url = http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-colorado-shooting-computer-20150421-story.html|website = latimes.com|accessdate = 2015-11-03}}</ref> In 2007, a German man threw his computer out the window in the middle of the night, startling his neighbors. German police were sympathetic and did not press charges, stating "Who hasn't felt like doing that?"<ref>{{Cite web|title = Sympathetic police pardon man who threw computer out of window|url = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-469022/Sympathetic-police-pardon-man-threw-window.html|website = [[Mail Online]]|accessdate = 2015-11-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Veneziani|first1=Vince|title=German Throws Computer Out Window, Escapes Fine|url=https://techcrunch.com/2007/07/18/german-throws-computer-out-window-escapes-fine/|publisher=[[Tech Crunch]]|accessdate=2018-02-04}}</ref> In 2006, the staged surveillance video "[[Bad Day (viral video)|Bad Day]]", showing a man assaulting his computer at work, became a [[viral video|viral hit]] on the Internet, reaching over two million views.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Viral Video Breakdown |url=http://www.views4video.com/viral-video-breakdown |date=2013-07-25 |accessdate=2015-11-17 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725183339/http://www.views4video.com/viral-video-breakdown |archivedate=July 25, 2013 }}</ref> Other instances of reported computer rage have ranged from a restaurant owner who threw his laptop into a deep fryer, to an individual who threw his computer out the window, but forgot that the window was closed.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Drop the mouse and step away from the PC |url = http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7329279/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/t/drop-mouse-step-away-pc/#.VjgZQ7erSUk|website = msnbc.com|accessdate = 2015-11-11|date = 2005-03-31}}</ref>

== Prevalence ==

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In a 2013 survey of American adults, 36% of respondents who reported experiencing computer issues, also reported that they had screamed, yelled, cursed, or physically assaulted their computers within the last six months.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title= Over A Third of Americans Confess to Verbal or Physical Abuse—of Their Computers: New Harris Study Reveals the Extent of Frustration, Anger and Helplessness Spurred by Computer Problems |url= https://www.bulldogreporter.com/over-a-third-of-americans-confess-to-verbal-or-physical-abuse-of-their-computers |website= Bulldog Reporter |accessdate= 2015-11-11}}</ref>

In 2009, a survey was conducted with British computer users about their experiences with computers. This survey found that 54% of respondents reported verbally abusing their computers, and 40% reported that they had become physically violent toward their computers. The survey also found that most users experienced computer rage three to four times a month.<ref name=":2">{{Cite webnews |title= 'Computer rage' affects more than half of Britons |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/5086091/Computer-rage-affects-more-than-half-of-Britons.html |website= Telegraph.co.uk |accessdate= 2015-11-03|date= April 2009 |last1= Wardrop |first1= Murray }}</ref>

Differences in types of computer rage have also been found between different geographical regions. For example, one survey found that individuals from London have been found to be five times more likely to physically assault their computers, while those from [[Yorkshire]] and [[Humberside]] were found to be more likely to yell at their computers.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Computer anger: Northerners shout, Southerners lash out {{!}} ZDNet |url= http://www.zdnet.com/article/computer-anger-northerners-shout-southerners-lash-out |website= [[ZDNet]] |accessdate= 2015-11-17}}</ref> Differences have also been observed for age groups, as younger adults (18–24 years old) have reported more abusive behaviors in the face of computer frustration when compared to older adults (over 35 years old).<ref name=":8" /> Individuals with less computer experience in particular have also been reported to experience increased feelings of anger and helplessness when it comes to computers,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title= No. It's Not OK Computer! Computer-Related Stress in the Workplace |url= http://www.freshbusinessthinking.com/business_advice.php?AID=5202#.Vjg-OberSUl |website= Fresh Business Thinking |accessdate= 2015-11-03}}</ref> but other research has argued that it is the [[self-efficacy]] beliefs about computers that are predictive of computer frustration, not the amount of computer experience or use.<ref name=":9">{{Cite journal |title= Computer anxiety and anger: the impact of computer use, computer experience, and self-efficacy beliefs |url= http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563204000664 |journal= Computers in Human Behavior |date= 2006-11-01 |pages= 1001–1011 |volume= 22 |issue=6 |doi= 10.1016/j.chb.2004.03.020 |first= Jeffery D. |last= Wilfong}}</ref>

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=== Computer factors ===

Users can experience computer anger and frustration for a number of reasons. American adults surveyed in 2013 reported that almost half (46%) of their computer problems were due to [[malware]] or [[computer viruses]], followed by software issues (10%) and [[Memory management|not enough memory]] (8%).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title = Survey: Over A Third of Americans Confess to Verbal or Physical Abuse of Their Computers |url = http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130730005132/en/Survey-Americans-Confess-Verbal-Physical-Abuse-Computers|website = [[Business Wire]] |accessdate = 2015-11-03|date = 2013-07-30}}</ref> In another survey, users reported email, word processors, web browsing, [[operating system crashes]], inability to locate features, and program crashes as frequent initiators of computer frustration.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal|url = http://hcil2.cs.umd.edu/trs/2002-18/2002-18.pdf|title = Severity and Impact of Computer User Frustration: A Comparison of Student and Workplace Users|last = Lazar|first = Jonathan|date = December 23, 2004|journal = Interacting with Computers|volume = 18|issue = 2|pages = 187–207|doi = 10.1016/j.intcom.2005.06.001|pmid = |access-date = November 10, 2015|last2 = Jones|first2 = Adam; Hackley, Mary; Shneiderman, Ben.|hdl = 1903/6496}}</ref> These technical issues, paired with tight timelines, poor work progress, and failure to complete a computer task can create heightened computer anger and frustration.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":9" /> When this anger and frustration exceeds a person's control, it can turn into rage.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url = http://cognitron.umd.edu/trons/twt8apr2005/twt_04_08_2005.pdf|title = Computer Rage: A Student Response to Frustration with Technology|date = February 16, 2005|accessdate = November 2, 2015|website = |publisher = [[Laboratory for Automation Psychology]], [[University of Maryland Human–Computer Interaction Lab|HCIL]]-V |last = Norman|first = Kent L. | authorlink = Kent Norman}}</ref>

=== Psychological factors ===

Research on emotion has shown that anger is often caused by interruptions of plans and expectations, especially through the violation of [[Norm (social)|social norms]].<ref>{{Cite book|title = Anger and aggression: An essay on emotion|last = Averill|first = James R.|publisher = Springer-Verlag New York|year = 1982|isbn = 978-1-4612-5745-5|___location = New York|pages = XIV-402XIV–402}}</ref> This sense of anger can be magnified when the individual does not understand why they are unable to meet their goal or task at hand or why there was a violation of social norms. Psychologists have argued that this is particularly relevant to computer rage, as computer users interact with computers in a similar manner that they interact with other people<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Machines and Mindlessness: Social Responses to Computers|url = http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/0022-4537.00153/abstract|journal = Journal of Social Issues|date = 2000-01-01|issn = 1540-4560|pages = 81–103|volume = 56|issue = 1|doi = 10.1111/0022-4537.00153|first = Clifford|last = Nass|first2 = Youngme|last2 = Moon}}</ref> (for more information, see [[The Media Equation]]). Thus, when computers fail to function in the face of incoming deadlines or an important task to accomplish, users can feel betrayed by the computer in the same way they can feel betrayed by other people. Specifically, when users fail to understand why their computer will not work properly, often in the times they need it to the most, it can invoke a sense of hostility as it is interpreted as a breach of social norms or a personal attack.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal|title = Does computing anger have social elements? A comparison with driving anger|url = http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/0144929X.2014.895421|journal = Behaviour & Information Technology|pages = 294–303|volume = 34|issue = 3|doi = 10.1080/0144929x.2014.895421|first = John P.|last = Charlton|first2 = Arvid|last2 = Kappas|first3 = Aleksandra|last3 = Swiderska|year = 2015}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> Consistent with this finding, perceived betrayal by the computer can also elicit other negative emotions. One survey of US adults reported that 10% of users who experience computer issues experienced feeling helplessness, and 4% reported feeling victimized. In the same survey, 7% adults ages 18–34 reported that they had cried over their computer problems within the previous six months.<ref name=":8" />

== Dangers and potential benefits ==

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== Prevention and management ==

In response to computer issues that invoke frustration, some experts have suggested walking away from the computer for 15 minutes to "cool off".<ref>{{Cite web|title = Drop the mouse and step away from the PC|url = http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7329279/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/t/drop-mouse-step-away-pc/#.Vjgy5berSUl|website = msnbc.com|accessdate = 2015-11-03|date = 2005-03-31}}</ref> Other methods to prevent computer rage can be backing up computer data often,<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2005-06-03-computer-rage_x.htm|title = Got computer rage? Expert suggests safe ways to vent|date = June 3, 2005|accessdate = November 2, 2015|website = USATODAY|publisher = |last = Davia|first = Joy}}</ref> increasing memory of the computer,<ref name=":3" /> and even imagining pleasant images, such as petting an animal.<ref name=":4" /> Adopting a goal of improving computer knowledge may also be beneficial, as users are less likely to report computer rage when they view the issue as a challenge and not as a setback.<ref name=":7" /> If computer rage cannot be avoided, guidelines on how to rage with minimal consequences, such as wearing safety goggles and taking frustration out on older equipment, can be followed to reduce the likelihood of injury and significant property loss.<ref name=":1" />

Employers of staff who work with computers, often in situations where time is crucial, can take steps to prevent computer rage, such as making sure there is adequate software, and providing employees with anger management strategies.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = The determinants and expression of computer-related anger|url = http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563209001162|journal = Computers in Human Behavior|date = 2009-11-01|pages = 1213–1221|volume = 25|issue = 6|doi = 10.1016/j.chb.2009.07.001|first = John P.|last = Charlton}}</ref> Some computer technician companies have reported that, to reduce computer rage, their technicians are trained on how to work with customers in sensitive psychological states just as much as how to diagnose and fix technical issues.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|title = Repair Teams Try to Calm 'Computer Rage'|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/30/AR2005043001119.html|newspaper = The Washington Post|date = 2005-05-01|access-date = 2015-11-03|issn = 0190-8286|first = Ariana Eunjung|last = Cha}}</ref>

Designing computer interfaces to display more emotional support when errors occur, or provide therapy strategies, has also been suggested as a way to mitigate computer anger and rage.<ref name=":9" /> The application of [[affective computing]] has been shown to effectively mitigate negative emotions connected to computer use. One study found that an interface that sought the user's feelings, provided [[empathy]], and validated reported emotional states significantly reduced negative emotions associated with computer frustration for users.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = This computer responds to user frustration: Theory, design, and results|url = http://iwc.oxfordjournals.org/content/14/2/119|journal = Interacting with Computers|date = 2002-02-01|issn = 0953-5438|pages = 119–140|volume = 14|issue = 2|doi = 10.1016/S0953-5438(01)00053-4|first = J.|last = Klein|first2 = Y.|last2 = Moon|first3 = R. W.|last3 = Picard}}</ref> Another study found that when error messages contain positive wording ("Great that the computer will soon work again") compared to negative wording ("This is frustrating") or a neutral error message, users exhibited more signs of happiness.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = The effects of affective interventions in human–computer interaction|url = http://iwc.oxfordjournals.org/content/16/2/295|journal = Interacting with Computers|date = 2004-04-01|issn = 0953-5438|pages = 295-309295–309|volume = 16|issue = 2|doi = 10.1016/j.intcom.2003.12.001|language = en|first = Timo|last = Partala|first2 = Veikko|last2 = Surakka}}</ref>

== See also ==