catharsis

catharsis
1. SYN: purgation. 2. The release or discharge of emotional tension or anxiety by psychoanalytically guided emotional reliving of past, especially repressed, events. SYN: psychocatharsis. [G. katharsis, purification, fr. katharos, pure]

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ca·thar·sis also ka·thar·sis kə-'thär-səs n, pl ca·thar·ses also ka·thar·ses -.sēz
1) PURGATION
2) elimination of a complex by bringing it to consciousness and affording it expression compare ABREACTION

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n.
purging or cleansing out of the bowels by giving the patient a laxative (cathartic) to stimulate intestinal activity.

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ca·thar·sis (kə-thahrґsis) [Gr. katharsis a cleansing] 1. evacuation. 2. in psychiatry, release of ideas, thoughts, and repressed material from the unconscious, accompanied by an emotional response and relief.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • CATHARSIS — Dans sa Poétique , Aristote justifie la tragédie en lui attribuant un pouvoir de purification (katharsis ) des passions du spectateur. Assistant à un tel spectacle, l’être humain se libérerait des tensions psychiques, qui s’extériorisent sur le… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Catharsis — ( gr. ) is a Greek word meaning purification , cleansing or clarification. It is derived from the infinitive gr. transliterated as kathairein to purify, purge, and adjective gr. katharos pure or clean. Dramaturgical usesThe term in drama refers… …   Wikipedia

  • catharsis — CÁTHARSIS s.n. 1. (lit.) Purificare a spiritului cu ajutorul artei prin participare intensă la fenomenul artistic. 2. (În psihanaliză) Efect terapeutic obţinut prin descărcarea unei trăiri refulate. [Scris şi: catarsis. – pr.: tar ] – Din fr.… …   Dicționar Român

  • Catharsis — Ca*thar sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?. See {Cathartic}.] (Med.) 1. A natural or artificial purgation of any passage, as of the mouth, bowels, etc. 2. (Psychotherapy) The process of relieving an abnormal excitement by re[ e]stablishing the association… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Catharsis — (gr.), Reinigung, bes. durch Brech u. Purgirmittel; daher so v.w. Purgiren, u. Cathartĭca,[764] ausleerende Mittel, bes. Purgirmittel; Catharticemetĭca, zugleich abführende u. Brechen erregende Mittel …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • catharsis — noun abreaction, acting out, deliverance, detersion, discharge of emotions, emotional release, outlet, purgation, purge, release, riddance, ventilation Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • catharsis — (n.) 1803, from Latinized form of Gk. katharsis purging, cleansing, from kathairein to purify, purge, from katharos pure, clear of dirt, clean, spotless; open, free; clear of shame or guilt; purified, with most of the extended senses now found in …   Etymology dictionary

  • catharsis — [n] purging, purification ablution, abreaction, cleansing, expurgation, lustration, purgation, purification, release; concepts 13,165,230 Ant. dirtying …   New thesaurus

  • catharsis — ► NOUN ▪ the release of pent up emotions, for example through drama. DERIVATIVES cathartic adjective & noun. ORIGIN Greek katharsis, from kathairein cleanse …   English terms dictionary

  • catharsis — [kə thär′sis] n. [ModL < Gr katharsis, purification < kathairein, to purify < katharos, pure] 1. purgation, esp. of the bowels 2. the purifying of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, esp. by art; concept applied originally… …   English World dictionary

  • Catharsis — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Catharsis (homonymie). La catharsis ou katharsis (en grec κάθαρσις) signifie purification. La catharsis est l épuration des passions par le moyen de la représentation dramatique. Sommaire 1 Histoire du concept …   Wikipédia en Français

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