Catharsis: A downward spiral of aggression
Thanks to http://youarenotsosmart.com/2010/08/11/catharsis/, I’ve just had a revelation:
If you [believe venting or bitching] is good, you are more likely to seek it out when you get pissed. When you vent, you stay angry and are more likely to keep doing aggressive things so you can keep venting.
It’s drug-like, because there are brain chemicals and other behavioral reinforcements at work. If you get accustomed to blowing off steam, you become dependent on it.
…
Catharsis will make you feel good, but … the emotion which led you to catharsis will still be there afterward
…
The more effective approach is to just stop. Take your anger off of the stove. Let it go from a boil to a simmer to a lukewarm state
Nuff said.
