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Catharsis vs Decathexis - What's the difference?

catharsis | decathexis |

As nouns the difference between catharsis and decathexis

is that catharsis is (drama) a release of emotional tension after an overwhelming vicarious experience, resulting in the purging or purification of the emotions, as through watching a dramatic production (especially a tragedy) while decathexis is reversal of cathexis; detachment of the libido from some external object.

catharsis

English

(wikipedia catharsis)

Noun

(catharses)
  • (drama) A release of emotional tension after an overwhelming vicarious experience, resulting in the purging or purification of the emotions, as through watching a dramatic production (especially a tragedy).
  • Any release of emotional tension to the same effect, more widely.
  • A purification or cleansing, especially emotional.
  • (psychology) A therapeutic technique to relieve tension.
  • (medicine) Purging of the digestive system.

    • Related terms

    * cathartic

    Anagrams

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    decathexis

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • reversal of cathexis; detachment of the libido from some external object