Calm Over Catharsis: New Review Finds Venting Anger Isn’t Effective
A meta-analysis of 154 studies (10,189 participants) finds venting anger does not reliably reduce anger and may even increase it; the key to taming anger is lowering physiological arousal through calming activities such as slow-flow yoga, mindfulness, diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or taking a timeout. Reflection on underlying causes and, when helpful, CBT can aid some, but arousal-reducing strategies generally beat venting—even vigorous exercise like jogging can backfire. The findings, published in Clinical Psychology Review, challenge the catharsis myth and support calming techniques as the best option.
