The modern conceptualization of catharsis originated from Freud, Breuer, and their other colleagues. They described the process of “abreation” (the emotional release of pent-up “psychic energy” from stressful or even traumatic events through expressions like crying).
However, research in the past few decades put this idea to structured testing and found that catharsis is not “real” on its own. It’s actual or perceived effects appear to be due to other factors. But it also has negative effects.
Things like punching a pillow or yelling in a field do not “release” anger or stress. These methods may simply induce a temporary sense of power, justification, and/or efficacy. But many attempts at catharsis are actually associated with more anger because they only reinforce maladaptive behavior. For example, telling a child to go hit a pillow reinforces aggressive behavior as a way of coping with stress or anger.
Even emotional venting on its own (e.g., screaming in a field) does not work for emotional benefit. Too much venting without learning solutions or concrete goals to affect one’s life can even have negative effects.
But healthy amounts of venting can be effective. This is due to the social support and validation gained from verbally “venting” to friends or family members. This social venting can also bring about additional cognitive processing or assimilation of new ideas with one’s thoughts/beliefs about a situation and how they might approach it. Otherwise, going out and telling all of your problems to a tree would work wonders and we wouldn’t need friends. Or therapists?
