What Is Catharsis? Definition, Psychology Applications, And Why It Feels Good

Catharsis is a common term used in different contexts. For example, it can reference the purging of negative emotions, spiritual renewal, release of tension, or eliminating a psychological complex by exposing it and allowing it to surface in the consciousness. The contexts of catharsis all share a common theme of healing. What facilitates that recovery through catharsis varies between individuals. Some experience catharsis through art such as theater, music, novels, etc. Other times, catharsis comes with a ceremony, service, or conversation.

The history of catharsis

Catharsis is a term and concept that dates to the Ancient Greeks. The renowned philosopher Aristotle described catharsis as "the purging of the spirit of morbid and base ideas or emotions by witnessing the playing out of such emotions or ideas on stage." Aristotle also believed that catharsis could help "moderate passions and strong emotions, therefore restoring the balance in one's heart" and that this process created "wise and reasonable men." 

Aristotle's concept of catharsis primarily applied to the theater arts, specifically tragedies. By watching a tragic play, a person might initially feel negative emotions, but they release those feelings by experiencing them through the characters during the play, producing catharsis. The same idea could also be applied to music, according to Aristotle.

The modern definition of catharsis

Aristotle and his definition of catharsis existed well before the formal development of psychology as a field; however, some modifications would be made later without changing its core meaning.

Regarding the later catharsis definition, psychology associates this term with Sigmund Freud, the father of modern psychology. According to the American Psychological Association, catharsis in psychology refers to "the discharge of previously repressed effects connected to traumatic events that occur when these events are brought back into consciousness and re-experienced." 

Collaborating with Freud, Josef Breuer helped bring catharsis to the scientific forefront by developing "cathartic therapy." This method predates psychoanalysis, the methodology for which Freud is the most well-known. The pair hypothesized that people's psychological symptoms are based on repressed memories, and through hypnosis, they could retrieve these adverse events from them. 

According to Freud and his observation, "each hysterical symptom immediately and permanently disappeared when we had succeeded in bringing clarity to light the memory of the event by which it was provoked and in arousing its accompanying effect." 

The use of catharsis in psychology

While there had been some results with cathartic therapy, this concept would later be abandoned and rejected by Freud, citing that it was ineffective for bringing about change overall. The cessation of cathartic treatment gave rise to psychoanalysis as a more mainstream method. Despite Freud's rejection of his old techniques, the concepts of catharsis, retrieving memories, and discharging emotions would still be a core value of many other psychotherapy methods that would follow.

Here are some forms of therapy that do this: 

Primal therapy

Primal therapy focuses on a person's earliest memories of suffering and attempts to release them. One example is having the client redirect their negative feelings towards an imaginary parent sitting in the session. By doing this, the patient may finally express go of the emotions that have been pent up for years.

Psychodynamic therapy

An older method that followed psychoanalysis often focused on feelings of inferiority by the patient and its roots. By addressing deep-rooted issues that promote feelings of inferiority, people may focus on self-improvement instead.

Emotionally focused therapy (EFT)

This form of therapy is typically used for relationships, and it seeks to improve couples' emotional intelligence to communicate better with each other and resolve conflicts within the relationship. 

Psychodrama

Psychodrama returns to the roots of catharsis involving Aristotle and implements acting to bring purification. However, instead of watching a play, the individual “acts out” the troubling events of their past with the participation of a trained psychotherapist, giving them more perspective. 

Exposure and response prevention (ERP)

Exposure and Response Prevention is a specific type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that involves desensitizing a person’s reaction to people, objects, or trauma-related events. For example, a person who is experiencing symptoms of PTSD, such as avoiding triggers, will gradually be exposed to the subjects that cause them to re-experience traumatic memories. Eventually, they will realize that the threat is in the past and become less responsive to triggers.

Other examples of catharsis

While watching a play, a movie, or listening to music has already been established to be cathartic for many people, other activities can be helpful.

In addition to these other forms of media, reading literature can also be cathartic for the same reasons that watching a play or movie can. Stories can allow the reader to release their emotions and feel positive afterward.

There are many examples of how aggressive sports may be cathartic. Still, the research is conflicting on how, why, and if the catharsis is healthy or only contributes to further tendencies toward violence. 

Art, whether it is drawing, painting, making music, or creative writing, to name a few examples, can all be therapeutic. All of these provide an outlet for people to express themselves, and just by seeing, reading, or hearing the art, you can often get an idea of what the person was feeling at the time. Some artists will openly discuss their piece's meaning and how it helped release their emotions.

Why catharsis feels good

Catharsis has two main components; one involves emotional discharge, and the other is cognitive awareness. While some people focus on one side more than the other, the two sides of catharsis contribute to the experience.

With the cathartic release, we bring our emotions into awareness. This helps provide insight and self-knowledge in addition to simply “getting things off our chests.” It gives us a sense of control over our emotions, sometimes feeling like a burden has been lifted. This creates the positive experience everyone associates with the word catharsis and stays true to its traditional meaning - cleansing, purging, or purification. Beyond revealing our intense emotions so we may cognitively understand them better, catharsis provides a healthy vehicle for purging those emotions. With time, catharsis can also help us learn how to express our feelings healthily in the future. 

Catharsis can be as healthy for us physically as it is mentally. Research shows that repressed emotions can take a toll on us, leading to immunity suppression, cardiovascular problems, and terminal diseases like cancer. In addition, repressed emotions play a significant role in mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Conditions such as these commonly present comorbidities with substance use disorders and others contributing to health problems. These factors add up to the risk of sickness and early mortality rates.

Online therapy can provide a space for catharsis

While finding cathartic activities on your own is possible, uncovering the issues from the past that create those bottled feelings can be challenging to do on your own. Conversely, it is difficult for some to express their emotions, cathartically or otherwise, even if they can easily cognitively identify the issues contributing to their repressed emotions. 

Emotional repression can be realized, understood, and utilized with the help of a therapist who can guide you through processing your feelings and understanding their origins— vital for our mental health and well-being. Despite its importance, many people can’t or choose not to seek therapy with a mental health professional. The reasons for this are various, including barriers to accessibility and affordability. Some people have trouble scheduling appointments in the middle of the busy work week. Others feel uncomfortable or reluctant to speak to a professional about the personal causes of repressed emotions. Still, others think that therapy won’t help at all. 

Online therapy through platforms like Regain provides an excellent solution to these obstacles to treatment and more. You can talk to a Regain therapist conveniently via phone, text, online messaging, video chat, and more. Virtual therapy is discrete; you can speak to your counselor from home or anywhere with an internet connection. It’s often more affordable than conventional therapy without insurance, and research indicates it’s as effective for treating patients with anxiety and depressive disorders, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and more. 

For example, a German study featuring 96 patients reporting symptoms of PTSD measured the efficacy of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy over ten sessions. The findings revealed that:

 “PTSD severity and other psychopathological symptoms were significantly improved for the treatment group. Additionally, patients of the treatment condition showed significantly greater reduction of co-morbid depression and anxiety as compared to the waiting list condition.” The study also revealed that “high ratings of the therapeutic alliance and low drop-out rates indicated that a positive and stable therapeutic relationship could be established online. Significant improvement of the online working alliance in the course of treatment and a substantial correlation between the quality of the online relationship at the end of treatment and treatment outcome emerged.”

If you’re ready to address and resolve difficult emotions through catharsis, a Regain licensed professional can help.