Catharsis in Psychology

Have you ever felt a wave of relief after a good cry or a deep conversation with a friend? That feeling is what psychologists refer to as catharsis, a powerful release that can be a tool for processing your emotions and alleviating psychological distress. When catharsis is successful, it is accompanied by cognitive insight and positive change.

What's behind this emotional release? According to psychoanalytic theory, it's driven by a need to relieve unconscious conflicts. For example, when you get stressed about something at work, you'll need to release those feelings of frustration and tension.

When we experience stress, anxiety, fear, anger, and trauma , intense and complex feelings build over time. At a certain point, the emotion and turmoil can become almost overwhelming. People may feel they will "explode" unless they can release this pent-up emotion.

Because we don't want to blow up or vent these emotions in other inappropriate ways, we have to find some other way to release them and achieve catharsis. Some healthy ways to do that might include engaging in physical activity, talking to a friend, or doing other stress-relieving activities.

Keep reading to learn more about what catharsis means, its role in well-being, and what you can do to achieve it.

The Meaning of Catharsis

The term comes from the Greek katharsis, meaning "purification" or "cleansing." It is used in therapy and literature. For example, the hero of a novel might experience an emotional catharsis that leads to some restoration or renewal. The purpose of catharsis is to bring about some form of positive change in the individual's life.

Therapeutic Uses for Catharsis

Although the term has been used since the Ancient Greeks, Sigmund Freud's colleague Josef Breuer was the first to use it to describe a therapeutic technique. Breuer developed what he referred to as a "cathartic" treatment for hysteria.

His treatment involved having patients recall traumatic experiences while under hypnosis. By consciously expressing emotions that had been long repressed, Breuer found that his patients experienced relief from their symptoms.

According to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, the human mind is composed of three key elements: the conscious, the preconscious, and the unconscious. The conscious mind contains all of the things we are aware of.

The preconscious contains things that we might not be immediately aware of but that we can draw into awareness with some effort or prompting. Finally, the unconscious mind is the part of the mind containing the vast reservoir of thoughts, feelings, and memories that are outside of awareness.

The unconscious mind played a critical role in Freud’s theory. While the contents of the unconscious are out of awareness, he still believed they still influence our behavior and how we function.

In their book Studies on Hysteria, Freud and Breuer defined catharsis as "the process of reducing or eliminating a complex by recalling it to conscious awareness and allowing it to be expressed." Catharsis still plays an important role today in Freudian psychoanalysis.

Catharsis In Everyday Language

Outside of psychotherapy, the term catharsis has also found a place in everyday language. We often use it to describe those moments of insight or the experience of finding closure.

For example, a person going through a divorce might describe experiencing a cathartic moment that helps bring them a sense of peace and helps that person move past a toxic relationship.

Some people also experience catharsis following a traumatic or stressful event, such as a health crisis, job loss, accident, or the death of a loved one. They may experience a moment of release where they are able to process what they've been through and look forward with a greater sense of hope and wisdom.

Examples of Catharsis

Catharsis can happen when you're in therapy, but it's also possible to experience this type of release during other life moments. Some examples of how catharsis might take place include:

• Talking with a friend: A discussion with a friend about a problem you are facing might spark a moment of insight in which you can see how an event from earlier in your life might be contributing to your current behavior patterns. This emotional release may help you feel better and be able to face your current dilemma.
• Listening to music: Music can be motivational, but it can also often spark moments of great insight. Music can allow you to release emotions in a way that frequently leaves you feeling restored.
• Creating or viewing art: A powerful artwork can stir deep emotions. Creating art can also be a form of release.
• Exercise: The physical demands of exercise can be a great way to work through strong emotions and constructively release them.
• Psychodrama: This type of therapy involves acting out difficult events from the past. By doing so, people are sometimes able to reassess and let go of the pain from these events.
• Expressive writing and journaling: Writing can be an effective mental health tool, whether journaling or writing fiction. Expressive writing, a process that involves writing about traumatic or stressful events, may be helpful for gaining insight and relieving stressful emotions.
• Various therapy approaches. Catharsis plays an essential role in emotionally focused, psychodynamic, and primal therapies.

Remember that exploring difficult emotions can come with risks, particularly if these experiences are rooted in trauma or abuse. If you are concerned about the potential effects of exploring these emotions, consider working with a trained mental health professional.

Some critics suggest that while catharsis might relieve tension in the short term, it might reinforce negative behaviors and increase the risk of emotional outbursts in the future.

Takeaways

Catharsis can play a role in helping people deal with difficult or painful emotions. This emotional release can also be an important therapeutic tool for coping with fear, depression, and anxiety. If you are coping with difficult emotions, talking to a mental health professional can help you to explore different techniques that can lead to catharsis.