Catharsis, Aggression, and Persuasive Influence: Self-Fulfilling or Self-Defeating Prophecies?
Category:
32
Credits:
1.5
Objectives:
Readers will be able to describe at least two results of procatharsis messages on those receiving them.
Readers will be able to describe the differences between the medias and many of the self-help writers approaches to catharsis and that supported by the clinical research literature.
Relevance: Many self-help books and relatively popular approaches to counseling and/or psychotherapy adhere to the hydraulic model of anger, that is, that one must express one's anger and not allow it to build up inside as though humans have a closed energy system relative to anger and other emotions. Clinicians must be familiar with the research that does not support the value of catharsis and that indicates that the overt expression of anger may, in fact, increase aggression. If clinicians are practicing under outmoded models, such awareness will hopefully influence them to change their strategies.
Description:
This article reviews the results of two studies examining the effect of procatharsis or anticatharsis messages on later aggression in the individuals studied. Results do not support the catharsis theory of anger management, yet it continues to be widely supported in the public media and many self-help books.
Keywords: Anger management, anger, catharsis, media, aggression, violence
Approval Bodies:
Professional Development
American Psychological Association
Florida Dept. of Health (Board of Social Work, Marriage & Family, Mental Health Counseling)
NAADAC, National Association for Addiction Professionals
National Board for Certified Counselors
Florida Board of Nursing
Ohio Board of Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board, Expiration 03/31/2010
California Board of Behavioral Sciences
Illinois Social Work Continuing Education
Association of Social Work Boards Approved Continuing Education (ACE)
CAADAC, California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors
CAADE - California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators
Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists
Ohio Board of Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board, 04/2010 to 03/2012
