Jains are better at anger control: Study

Jain practitioners are more likely to be less impulsive and have higher anger control as compared to Hindus. The findings of a recent study — 'Stress detection, impulsivity and anger control among Jains and Hindus' — were presented at an international conference on forensics and cyber security held at Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU) on Friday.

Interestingly, the study that has taken samples from both communities has found that since Jainism has more 'tyag' and 'ahimsa', these practitioners are more likely to be less impulsive and have higher anger control. Nearly 120 participants from both religions were interviewed and their responses were tested using stress detector scale, impulsive scale and anger control scale.

The study has been done by students and faculty members of Institute of Behavioural Science at GFSU.

Speaking about the research, Rutuja Karkhanis, assistant professor at GFSU, who guided the students, said, "One reason religious and spiritual traditions have been persistent in human history is that they provide meaning. Jainism and Hinduism are two ancient Indian religions and there are some similarities between them. Jainism has distinct religious practices like 'tyag, tapasya, ahimsa and maun vrat'.

All these practices are thought to have a gradual impact on every individual practising Jainism. We wish to take this study to all religions in future."

Twenty-one-year Madhuri Marathe from Goa, one of the researchers and a Masters student of Forensic Science at GFSU, said, "Positive psychology is often related to religion. So when I saw Neha Jain, one of my classmates, observing fast for a few hours during Paryushan, I was quite fascinated by the entire system. She also accepted that her lifestyle has affected her psychology.

"One of the main reasons for less stress, anger and impulsiveness among Jains are that they practise restraint since childhood. As they grow up, they learn to control their behaviour, anger, urges," she added.

Said Neha, "We went to Jain and Hindu temples in and around Gandhinagar and asked questions to gauge people's aggression, both passive and active. Participants were of 25-50 age group."

Commenting on the study, city-based sociologist Gaurang Jani said it was not just because Jains practised ahimsa. "For Jains, ahimsa does not go beyond the issue of animals. I think Jains are very cohesive as compared to Hindus. When you have cohesiveness, you have more support system in your own community and because of that support system, you find answers to any social or economic problem in your family or community. There is no need to go beyond," said Jani.

"If Jains have any problem, they meet their religious leaders who also take immense interest in family matters including the education of children and social issues. They not just preach but interact a lot with Jain families and their relationship goes beyond one generation. In Hindus, castes and sects are so divided that such support system has not been developed," he added.