Is whining good or bad? Or some mix of both?

Whine, as a verb, refers to ‘complain in a feeble or petulant way’ (The New Oxford American Dictionary). Whining seems to be a natural skill we are born with (or we are inherited from). I am sure most of us would have indulged ourselves with some whining, sporadically or frequently. A frequent or obsessive whiner may be labelled as a whinger. Whinging seems to denote a repetitive and obsessive form of whining. As a verb, whinge refers to ‘complain persistently and in a peevish or irritating way’ (The New Oxford American Dictionary).

Why do people whine? A straightforward answer can be because people are disgruntled with a situation or an event. We whine about all sorts of issues, either crucial or trivial. These issues can span from job dissatisfaction, poor salary, failing to secure a job application, a domestic quarrel with partner (or a friend) to a bad haircut, poor customer service at a café, and missing out on a sales. The range of issues that can trigger whining is almost endless. Sometimes I wonder if whining is, to some extent, personality-prone. That is, are certain individuals more likely to indulge in whining than others? Are these individuals likely to be introverted, pessimistic, and attention-seekers? Of course, this notion needs further scientific testing and verification.

Besides the relationship between whining and human personality, I am also interested in the effects of whining on our well-being. That is, is whining constructive or destructive? Or, some mix of both? Does whining help alleviate our disgruntled feelings, reduce stress level, or encourage us to take corrective action in an unpleasant situation? Thinking from a reverse perspective, does whining do more harm than good? Does whining exacerbate dissatisfaction, develop avoidance behaviour, or infuse others with negative perceptions of a brand?

In a business environment, should customers be encouraged to whine? Can customer whining be harnessed to develop useful insights and business strategies? Is it why social networking sites are increasingly being integrated into a business’s media plan as a strategic attempt to encourage customer whining? How do businesses differentiate ‘good’ from ‘bad’ customer whining?

I never thought whining, a common human behaviour, can raise so many questions. Please feel free to contribute if you happen to have some answers to those questions.