What is catharsis and how to experience the effect: the meaning of the word and types with examples

What is catharsis in psychology

Psychologists often use catharsis in their work. Catharsis in psychology is the process of cleansing feelings and getting rid of negative memories.

If we talk about catharsis in simple words, then this is a transition from darkness to light, cleansing from filth.

The meaning of the word catharsis is closely related to internal rebirth, elevation above oneself. Also a concept close to him is insight, which means illumination.

The definition of catharsis is found in different areas of science and life (art, literature, cinema, psychoanalysis).

History of the concept

The term catharsis comes from the Greek κάθαρσις, which means cleansing, healing, elevation.

Initially, catharsis was the name given to aesthetic emotions and experiences that arise in a person after watching a tragedy in the theater, and then the scope of use of the term expanded.

Today, catharsis is the process of perceiving works of art, after which a feeling of inner enlightenment and purification arises.

What does catharsis mean to a person?

The effect of catharsis for a person is considered positive, because it really brings benefits. Many people hide their emotions, remain silent about pain, and accumulate unpleasant memories.

This “set” depresses, pulls you back, and prevents you from living a full life. In addition, accumulated negativity often becomes the cause of psychosomatic diseases.

Almost any physical illness can have emotional roots. Stress and worries at the physiological level “hit” the immune system. A person catches a cold faster and becomes more susceptible to infections.

Catharsis brings a number of other beneficial properties to the body:

Allows you to forget old grievances and come closer to forgiving the offender.

It helps to speak out loud your fears, and therefore admit them.

Reduces the level of dissatisfaction and negative emotional background, as a person voices painful issues.

Relieves nervous tension.

Increases the feeling of self-confidence and the correctness of one’s own actions.

Helps you better understand your inner world.

Improves quality of life.

The downside of the condition is that when catharsis is achieved, a person almost always cries. But these are good, cleansing tears. After them, people usually feel relief.

Other meanings[edit]

“Catharsis” is also used in religious and philosophical terms, usually in the meaning of “elevation”, “improvement”, “relief”. More details - not with us.

• And Catharsis is a Russian power metal band. There's quite a bit of this in her lyrics. True, according to the participants, they did not want to be called that way for a long time - they say, it is very similar to “syphilis”.
• This is also the nickname of an imaginary “critic” - a character in BadComedian reviews who looks for hidden meaning and that very catharsis in everything.

Who is susceptible to catharsis?

The cathartic effect is closely related to the concepts of spirituality. Many believers perceive their own state after prayer or meditation as catharsis. Catharsis is often experienced by sensitive, open people.

However, if a person is callous and distrustful of emotional and open people, then it will be difficult, almost impossible, for him to experience catharsis. As a rule, touching scenes in films, sad plots in books, or the experiences of other people do not touch them.

This does not mean that people who are poor in emotions cannot develop and improve themselves. They just need to choose other methods.

Have you ever experienced catharsis? Tell us about your experience in the comments, it was probably amazing for the first time.

According to Freud ↑

Sigmund Freud, based on the results of treatment with hypnosis in psychotherapy, connected the phenomenon of catharsis with manifestations of hysteria.

He believed that the symptoms of this disease are formed due to the direction of psychic energy associated with negative experiences to the level of the unconscious.

In his research, Freud used hypnosis to induce catharsis to cure hysteria. But time after time, he became convinced that hypnosis could not be a panacea, since, despite the obvious positive results, there was no lasting effect from the treatment: the percentage of repeat applications turned out to be too high.

The scientist was also forced to abandon hypnosis by the fact that a sufficiently large proportion of patients succumbed to the influence of hypnosis only partially, or did not succumb at all.

Having stopped the practice of hypnosis treatment, he succeeded in a new psychological technique: Freud developed a method based on free associations (the so-called technique in psychology when the patient names the first images that come to mind).

The term “catharsis,” despite its long history and widespread use, has not yet been given a clear and precise definition.

Until now, the boundaries of its understanding range from medical “relief” to general cultural “purification” and “enlightenment” of the human soul.

Video: What are Catharsis psychotherapeutic trainings aimed at?

Catharsis options

The state of catharsis is often accompanied by tears and serious emotional shock. For an ordinary person, this is just crying, but psychologists identify several options for catharsis.

Compound

Current composition

1. Oleg Zhilyakov - vocals (since 1999)
2. Oleg "Mission" Mishin - guitars, flute, keys (since 2001)
3. Igor "Jeff" Polyakov - rhythm guitars (since 1996)
4. Yulia "Red" Chumakova - keyboards (since 1997)
5. Alexander "Count" Timonin - bass (since 2002)
6. Anatoly Levitin - drums (since 2008)
7. Andrey Ishchenko - drums (2001-2006, session since 06/19/2009)

Former members

• Anton Arich - guitars, keyboards (1996-2001)
• Sergey "Immortal" Bendrikov - vocals (1996-1999)
• Lyudmila Abramova - backing vocals (1997-1998)
• Andrey Bartkevich - vocals (1999)
• Andrey Kapachev - vocals (1999 on a session basis)
• Yaroslav Eremin - keyboards (1996-1997)
• Tatyana Korablina - keyboards 1999
• Alexandra Abanina - keyboards, backing vocals (1997-1998)
• Maxim Poldnev - drums (1996-1997)
• Vladimir Muchnov - drums (1997-2001)
• Alexey Barzilovich - drums (2006-2007, session 2010)
• Yuri "Dragon" Bocharov - bass (1996-1997)
• Alexey Kraev - bass (1997-1998 on a session basis)
• Konstantin (?) - bass (1998 on a session basis)
• Stas (?) - bass (1998 on a session basis)
• Alexey Karlin - bass (1998 on a session basis)
• Roman Senkin - bass (1999-2000 on a session basis)
• Vadim Bystrov - bass (2000-2001 on a session basis)

What does it mean to freeze in catharsis?

The concept of catharsis is a process that consists of several stages or steps.

A negative experience is just the beginning of entering a state. Anger, aggression, pain and other negative qualities deepen and expand during therapy. These are then transformed into positive feelings such as relief and cleansing.

That is, a person’s feelings during catharsis become bright, noble, and pure. This means to freeze in catharsis, that is, to catch this position and linger in it.

Catharsis in psychotherapy

The cathartic method is at the origins of such a direction in psychology as psychoanalysis. The point is to live through the traumatic experience, release your emotions and achieve relief.

The technique has found its application in various areas and methods of psychology. The most common uses can be seen in psychodrama and gestalt therapy.

Psychodrama is like theater. Its participants take on the roles of participants in the situation being worked on.

For example, a domestic conflict is being worked through. One participant takes on the role of the father, another - the mother, the third - the child. They behave as closely as possible like real participants in the events. This allows you to look at the situation from the outside, analyze your own mistakes, and change your behavior.

Gestalt therapy in the “here and now” situation allows a person to be transported to the events he needs, to work with metaphors or images of other people.

For example, a person was not with his mother at the time of her death, did not have time to tell her important words or ask for forgiveness. This gnaws at him for many years and months. Together with the psychotherapist, we work with the image of the mother, the person tells her the right words and lets go of the situation.

Solo work and side projects

Oleg Zhilyakov

• In 2005, he sang in the song “Everythin is falling again” by the Zelenograd group “Obsession”
• In February 2007, he took part in the presentation of the second album “Theater of Military Actions, Act 2” of the Moscow group “Fear Factor”.
• At the beginning of 2009, he took part as a backing vocalist in the recording of one of the songs on the album “I am who I am!” group "Black Smith".
• In November 2009, he took part in the presentation of the debut album “Last Hero” of the St. Petersburg group “Amalgama”, performing the song “Here and Now” with the group.
• In 2010, together with other musicians, he took part in recording a cover of the song “Newborn Fire” from the film “Don’t be afraid, I’m with you”, as part of Kirill Nemolyaev’s project “Heavy songs about the main thing-2”.

Oleg Mishin

• His first demo was released in 2006, and his debut album “Angel” was released in 2007. On March 17, 2011, the mini-album “Bestia” was released.
• On the album “1079” by the group “Salantina”, released at the end of 2010, Oleg Mishin recorded the flute part in the song “Thirteen Stars”.

An example of catharsis from life

Catharsis can be found in a variety of life situations, even the most ordinary ones:

1. A person has been dreaming of going to a concert of his favorite band for a whole year, saving money for a ticket, and booking it in advance. But on the day of the concert, it turns out that he is called to work and going to it is on the verge of breakdown. Through negotiations and efforts, the music lover manages to agree on a day off. In the end, everything ends well, he makes it to the concert. When he hears the first notes of his favorite songs, he feels incredible joy and inner freedom. Maybe even shed a couple of happy tears. This is catharsis.
2. The student was preparing for the exam and set himself the goal of passing it with “excellent marks.” Already in front of the audience, he was overcome by panic. It began to seem to him that he had forgotten everything and knew nothing. However, having drawn the ticket, he was able to answer the question well and get a well-deserved five. The student managed to accomplish an important achievement, although he himself did not fully believe in success.
3. The girl came to her friend and told her about the painful situation, with tears and without mincing words. After this, she felt a wave of inner relief; the problems no longer seemed so insoluble to her.
4. Watching a good comedy with the opportunity to laugh heartily at the absurdity of situations and get emotional release.

Catharsis in literature

Some writers know exactly what catharsis is. After reading their works, it is difficult to remain indifferent and not experience this feeling:

1. Jonathan Safran Feuer "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." A touching story about a boy whose father was killed in a terrorist attack.
2. Markus Zusak "The Book Thief" The work is about the girl Liesel, whose life occurred during the Second World War. The reader is given the opportunity to look at the events of the past through the prism of the future.
3. Sukhbat Aflatuni “Earthly Paradise”. The book is about a girl who is completely overwhelmed by grief over her departed mother.
4. Suad "Burn Alive" A story told by an illiterate girl, Suad, who grew up in a Caucasian family. A miracle happened in her life. She literally burned alive, but against all odds she survived.
5. Annabelle Pitcher "My sister lives on the mantel." A narration from the perspective of a 10-year-old boy whose family was destroyed by grief from the death of his beloved daughter.
6. Nikolai Karamzin "Poor Liza." There is probably not a person who would not be touched by the story of the beautiful but tragic love of the young peasant woman Lisa and Erast.

What works helped you achieve catharsis? Tell us about them in the comments. Or maybe you can recommend to us and our readers your favorite films, after which insights and relief occurred?

Self-improvement through catharsis

During the process of catharsis, a person will have to go through serious emotional experiences. But they do not aggravate a person’s situation, do not drive him into the abyss of depression. On the contrary, it promotes reappraisal, rethinking, and healing.

Living your own negative emotions and freeing yourself from them expands the boundaries of consciousness, a person becomes open to new knowledge, experience, and information. It also increases a person’s sensitivity to objects of art. Interaction with them contributes to the comprehensive development of a person.

The video provides an example of how people achieve catharsis during psychotherapy.

History of the phenomenon

Before we define what catharsis is, let's delve a little deeper into history. Greek doctors understood catharsis as the healing of the soul and body from the symptoms of illness. After this, the concept began to be used in culture to describe religious holidays. Then the concept came to philosophy. Then it began to be used in many sciences: physiology, medicine, ethics, aesthetics, philosophy. It was even used in magical meaning. Most attention was paid to the phenomenon in philosophy. There, catharsis was understood as the liberation of the spirit from bodily burdens. In the second half of the 19th century, the concept moved into psychology and psychotherapy.

How to achieve catharsis

To achieve catharsis, a person will need to do serious internal work:

1. Recognize that there are unprocessed emotions and experiences in his life that prevent him from living.
2. Understand that the time has come to change something in your life.
3. Feel the inner readiness to overcome fears, anxiety, and other negative emotions.
4. Achieve a state of inner peace.
5. Mentally return to the situation that causes negative thoughts and experiences. Live it again and in as much detail as possible, remember the smallest details.
6. Focus on the emotions that arise.
7. Let these emotions live, let them reach the top in their development.

Catharsis will come when negative emotions stop frightening a person and slowing down his development. He comes to terms with having such an experience and lets it go.

Notes

1. K a
   tharsis // Dictionary of foreign words. — 15th ed., rev. - M.: Russian language, 1988. - P. 220. - 608 p. — 200,000 copies. — ISBN 5-200-00317-2.
2. Catharsis
   //
   Krysin L.P.
   
   Explanatory
   dictionary of foreign words. — 2nd ed., add. - M.: Russian language, 2000. - P. 312. - 856 p. — (Library of Russian language dictionaries). — 5000 copies. — ISBN 5-200-02699-7.
3. Zarva M.V..
   Kat
   a
   rsis // Russian verbal stress. Dictionary. - M.: NC ENAS, 2001. - 600 p. — 6000 copies. — ISBN 5-93196-084-8.
4. Reich V. Character analysis: Technique and basic principles for students and practicing analysts. - M., 1999.
5. Rudestam K. Group psychotherapy. - St. Petersburg, 1999.
6. Dolgov K. M.
   // New philosophical encyclopedia / Institute of Philosophy RAS; National social-scientific fund; Pred. scientific-ed. Council V. S. Stepin, deputy chairmen: A. A. Guseinov, G. Yu. Semigin, student. secret A. P. Ogurtsov. — 2nd ed., rev. and additional - M.: Mysl, 2010. - ISBN 978-5-244-01115-9.