catharsis

[kuh-thahr-sis]

noun

plural

catharses 

1. the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, especially through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music.

2. Medicine/Medical.,  purgation.

3. Psychiatry.

   1. psychotherapy that encourages or permits the discharge of pent-up, socially unacceptable affects.

   2. discharge of pent-up emotions so as to result in the alleviation of symptoms or the permanent relief of the condition.

catharsis

/ kəˈθɑːsɪs /

noun

1. (in Aristotelian literary criticism) the purging or purification of the emotions through the evocation of pity and fear, as in tragedy

2. psychoanal the bringing of repressed ideas or experiences into consciousness, thus relieving tensions See also abreaction

3. purgation, esp of the bowels

catharsis

1. An experience of emotional release and purification, often inspired by or through art. In psychoanalysis, catharsis is the release of tension and anxiety that results from bringing repressed feelings and memories into consciousness.

Other Word Forms

• hypercatharsis noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of catharsis¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; from New Latin, from Greek kátharsis “a cleansing,” equivalent to kathar- (variant stem of kathaírein “to cleanse,” derivative of katharós “pure”) + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of catharsis¹

C19: New Latin, from Greek katharsis, from kathairein to purge, purify

Example Sentences

So I made films to give characters catharsis and through that, myself.

From Los Angeles Times

But the final scenes lose their edge-of-the-seat thrill when Cregger once again intervenes with jokes in the middle of the action that last too long and distract from the third act’s emotional catharsis.

From Salon

It wasn’t just that the audience wanted catharsis, it was that they wanted to see Alex — the mentally ill, lonely, mistreated woman they saw as simply “crazy” — get her comeuppance.

From Salon

The new season was exceptional, ending in a showcase for its primary actors and providing well-earned catharsis for their characters.

From Los Angeles Times

“To let go of that feeling was something which took me time, and obviously I had to do my own catharsis. I had self-identity doubts,” Chand said.

From Los Angeles Times