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lurkittyMost people associate the term "catharsis" with Sigmund Freud, but it was actually his colleague Josef Breuer who first used it in psychological circles. His theory was that "hysterical" symptoms were caused by pent up psychic pain, and he "released" that pain through reliving memories under hypnosis. Catharsis theory has widely come mean that the human psyche is like a steam kettle, anger and other emotions build up and can be relieved by "venting"; shouting, punching a bag, or physical activities like sports.
Psychologists have studied this phenomenon and come to the same conclusion that applied common sense does: venting one's anger is not calming.
One need only look at the sports arena for confirmation. Having tried to ice skate on a few occasions, I will concede that hockey players are great athletes. Yet are they non-violent, non-aggressive? Does anything in their public behavior suggest they are managing their anger any better than you or I? I'm not suggesting they need psychotherapy, just that, if catharsis worked, there would be no need for officials. Everything would be settled with a handshake and a nod.
So it was for the Vidane. I fail to understand the international gasp of surprise at a football player's violent act upon the field. True, it was idiotic, but it was not unprecedented. Violence begets violence.
So it is with Israel. MIred in violence in the Gaza, their first reaction to the abduction of soldiers was, by most accounts, a disproportionate bombing of Southern Lebanon. It was as though the Prime Minister has a button on his desk to alert the Israeli Air Force right at knee level just for such knee-jerk reactions. One must ask, in reacting this way, was Olmert inadvertently playing to Hezbollah's agenda and opening a second front, taking the pressure off the Gaza?
After ten years of peace, the people of Lebanon had only begun to rebuild their shattered lives. They are caught, once again between two warring powers with insatiable appetites for violence.
War is not cathartic.
Psychologists have studied this phenomenon and come to the same conclusion that applied common sense does: venting one's anger is not calming.
One need only look at the sports arena for confirmation. Having tried to ice skate on a few occasions, I will concede that hockey players are great athletes. Yet are they non-violent, non-aggressive? Does anything in their public behavior suggest they are managing their anger any better than you or I? I'm not suggesting they need psychotherapy, just that, if catharsis worked, there would be no need for officials. Everything would be settled with a handshake and a nod.
So it was for the Vidane. I fail to understand the international gasp of surprise at a football player's violent act upon the field. True, it was idiotic, but it was not unprecedented. Violence begets violence.
So it is with Israel. MIred in violence in the Gaza, their first reaction to the abduction of soldiers was, by most accounts, a disproportionate bombing of Southern Lebanon. It was as though the Prime Minister has a button on his desk to alert the Israeli Air Force right at knee level just for such knee-jerk reactions. One must ask, in reacting this way, was Olmert inadvertently playing to Hezbollah's agenda and opening a second front, taking the pressure off the Gaza?
After ten years of peace, the people of Lebanon had only begun to rebuild their shattered lives. They are caught, once again between two warring powers with insatiable appetites for violence.
War is not cathartic.
