The Mind-Blowing Science Of Epistolary Writing

Although epistolary writing has been known to be an endangered or even extinct form of literature due to the rise of modern technology and computers, it could very possibly make a comeback in a different way: as a form of medication. Research has shown that writing letters can bring more positive effects to one's health than known before. Listed below are different advantages of writing letters and the benefits of epistolary writing to our psychological well-being.

1. Writing Is Good For Your Brain

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Writing letters takes time, energy and dedication. One cannot simply write a complete sentence under five seconds as one would on a computer. When writing a letter, the writer must reserve time to think about the message he/she wants to portray, the organization and diction of the letter, and the long process of actually putting the thoughts down on paper. Although this process is longer than writing a quick email, studies have shown that during the process of writing, the writer remembers more about what he/she has written and is able to evoke more emotion and sincerity onto the letter. An experiment done by researchers at the University of Stavenger in Norway showed that there is more activity in the brain when a person is writing something down than when the same person types it up on the computer. The study concluded that the brain functions more effectively when one writes down information and is in a fairly dormant phase when one types instead of writing. Therefore, writing notes down would help students remember more information than typing them on a computer. When writing to someone, the increased brain activity causes the writer to make him/herself vulnerable to the emotional side of the brain.

2. One Can Learn More About The Writer Through Written Letters Than Email

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Handwriting is a very important aspect of letter writing. Dr. Karin James, a psychological from Indiana University showed through his study that handwriting reflects the attitude, mood and current emotions of the writer. Although we do not recognize it, our handwriting tends to vary from time to time depending on our current psychological state. When one is in a grumpy mood, the handwriting seems to be much more untidy. Not only does this inform the reader about the writer’s mood, but also gives a sense of tone to the letter. When reading an email, one can hardly tell whether the writer is being sarcastic, funny, serious or agitated. Therefore, a benefit of letter writing and epistolary writing is that the reader can get much more out of a letter than just the message.

3. We Are Genetically Programmed To Benefit From Writing

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As astonishing as it might sound, our genetic makeup shows that writing and reading helps us with our psychological wellness. Research done by behavioral ecologists suggested that most humans have a specific gene that allows us to connect emotionally with whatever we read or write. The researchers took genetic samples from multiple subjects of every age and found that most subjects who that the “HPP” trait in their DNA tended to be more introspective after reading a novel or writing a letter. By being more introspective, one would look into his/her emotional side. The subjects added that they connected with the fictional characters in the novel, causing them to compare their characteristics and habits with those of the characters. According to the subjects, this action made them understand themselves much clearer and brought a sense of satisfaction with their lives. Those who wrote letters felt the same way.

4. Writing Letters Can Make You Happier

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According to Dr. Steven Toepher, a psychology professor from Kent State University, writing letters to either oneself or to someone else can increase serotonin levels and cause people to be much more cheerful and jovial. His study asked for a large group of people to write letters of gratitude to their loved ones, bosses and other people in their lives. After weeks of doing this, their results showed that depression levels plummeted while life-satisfaction and happiness of the subjects increased drastically. People felt much more jolly after writing letters of appreciation because since writing takes a longer time, as specified earlier, the message marinates into the writer’s mind, allowing him/her to enjoy the process of writing down about his/her emotions, thoughts and feelings.

Did you know that writing about your life goals and aspirations can also make you happier?? Check this out!

5. Writing Letters Could Possibly Cure You From Mental Illnesses

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Data has shown that writing letters could expedite the process of curing and treating mental illness in patients. Treating mental health is a very complicated process that is unique from any other treatment, as nurses have to constantly check up on their patients to make sure that they are doing well. Through letter writing, nurses can easily contact their patients and give them a sense of personal touch during the treatment. Letters that contain clear instructions of medication, a sense of comfort and hope for the future has been proved to improve mental health in the patients of numerous studies. For example, a letter that includes phrases like “I enjoyed meeting with you” and “You have worked very hard” has proven to increase the speed of recovery in patients because of the boosted morale.

Interested in learning more? Read these articles: 1 2 3 4

6. Writing Letters Could Soon Be A Prescription To Patients With Incurable Diseases

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An experiment done by Oncologists shows that writing letters can help Cancer patients deal with their incurable illness in a much more serene manner. An experiment on terminal cancer patients showed that if a patient wrote letters to him/herself and to loved ones every week, his/her morale would increase, allowing for him/her to look at the positive side of the situation instead of the negative. For example, a specific patient stated that she learned to appreciate all the great holiday trips she experienced with her family and all the memories she made with her husband instead of complaining about having terminal cancer and only a few months to live. Doctors continues analyzing her and learned that during her last few months, she was much more jovial, appreciative and full of laughter. She also continued hand writing letters even after the experiment ended.