Punching bags have become a real money maker in today's market. In fact company's like Everlast, have grown into international corporations around items like punching bags and boxing gloves. But why are such items so popular? The answer can be found in a psychological concept known as displacement. Displacement is the act in which we direct an impulse from a socially unacceptable target onto a safer and more socially acceptable target. A life without frustrations is next to impossible in today's world. Our society however has learned to use displacement however, to direct our anger away from our boss or from all the other cars jamming up the freeway and towards things like punching bags. I think it's safe to say that most people would agree that society as a whole directing its physical aggression towards these punching bags and boxing gloves is probably the better alternative. And multi-million dollar corporations like Everlast and Mizuno would most likely agree.
Why Are Punching Bags Such a Hot Commodity?
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Excellent, well written post! I never realized the simplicity of how companies like Everlast make money off people's anger and that they are doing society a favor by directing our anger away from other people and into an inanimate object.
Displacement is something that is really common. There are other things that are similar to this like a stress ball. Someone who is stressed could easily get mad at someone or take their anger out on a person, but instead they can put this anger or stress into squeezing a stress ball. I've never thought much into this when taking psych but it's really interesting to put the two together.
I have always wanted to buy a punching bag, haha! I am ashamed to confess that I get angry or irritated quickly, depending on the day of course... I tend to take it out on my younger sister, which isn't fair and I feel terrible afterwards (I'm not talking punching the living daylights out of her, more like yelling at her). So, I think I'll have to make an "Everlasting" purchase :)
I'm pretty sure this is you Martin, so I'm going to leave you a nice comment on this well-done blog post. I liked how you took the idea of displacement and connected them to punching bags because that is obviously what most people use to solve their displacement. It was a very interesting read and kept my attention. I agree with your assessment and statements. Good work!