The Catharsis Hypothesis

The Catharsis Hypothesis suggests that expressing strong emotions, such as anger or frustration, can help reduce those emotions and make a person feel better. For example, venting or releasing feelings through crying, yelling, or other outlets is believed to clear emotional tension. The idea is that this emotional release prevents buildup, which could lead to more intense feelings or negative behaviors later. However, research shows mixed results on this, with some studies indicating that venting might temporarily feel relieving but doesn't always lead to long-term emotional relief and might sometimes increase aggression.