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Vicarious vs Catharsis - What's the difference?

vicarious | catharsis |

As a adjective vicarious

is experienced or gained by the loss or to the consequence of another, such as through watching or reading.

As a noun 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).

vicarious

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Experienced or gained by the loss or to the consequence of another, such as through watching or reading.
  • People experience vicarious pleasures through watching television.
  • Done on behalf of others
  • The concept of vicarious atonement, that one person can atone for the sins of another, is found in many religions.

    Quotations

    {{timeline, 1800s=1886, 1900s=1900 1920}} * 1886 — ch 10 *: The pleasures which I made haste to seek in my disguise were, as I have said, undignified; I would scarce use a harder term. But in the hands of Edward Hyde, they soon began to turn toward the monstrous. When I would come back from these excursions, I was often plunged into a kind of wonder at my vicarious depravity. * 1900 — ch 26 *: As time went on, the cruel custom was so far mitigated that a ram was accepted as a vicarious sacrifice in room of the royal victim. * 1920 — ch III *: In these, however, he had not much time to indulge, for a footman, still decked in the trappings of vicarious grief, opened the door with the most startling promptitude, and he was ushered upstairs into a small but richly furnished room.

    Derived terms

    * vicarious atonement * vicarious learning * vicarious liability * vicarious reinforcement

    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.
  • Anagrams

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