Venting about your friends, family, or co-workers is more than just a way to blow off steam. A study from UCLA found that venting isn’t just about emotional release – it’s actually a means of boosting your social status. For example – when you complain about one friend to another, you may be unconsciously trying to make yourself look better as well as strengthening your bond with the listener. Researchers found across several experiments that venting consistently led to listeners liking the venter more than the target of their venting.