Katharsis

Katharsis, usually spelled catharsis in English, derives from the Greek katharsis meaning purification or cleansing. The term has been used across philosophy, aesthetics, medicine, and psychology to denote a cleansing of emotions or mental states, often through experience, ritual, or therapy.

In the classical context, Aristotle’s Poetics presents tragedy as a vehicle for the audience’s catharsis of pity and fear. By witnessing the suffering and downfall of dramatic characters, viewers may experience emotional release that leads to renewal, insight, or moral understanding. The exact nature of this purgation—whether emotional, moral, or cognitive—has been debated since antiquity.

Beyond Aristotle, catharsis has acquired broader significance in literature, art, and psychology. It can refer to the purging of feelings through artistic activity, confession, or ritual. In contemporary usage, the idea is often invoked to describe therapeutic or transformative effects of engaging with art and drama. However, the efficacy and mechanisms of catharsis are contested, and the notion that venting always reduces distress or aggression is not universally supported by research.

In psychology, catharsis played a notable role in early psychoanalytic theory, where recalling and expressing traumatic memories was thought to produce abreaction and symptom relief. Later work emphasized that mere expression is not sufficient for lasting change; processing, meaning-making, and supportive context are important components of therapeutic outcomes.

Today, katharsis is discussed across disciplines—from literary studies to art and drama therapy—as a way to conceptualize how emotional experience interacts with change. It should not be confused with the medieval Cathars, a separate religious movement with a distinct history.