Glossary // Glossary term Empirical

Venting

Expressing an emotion, especially anger, with the aim of getting it out, for example by shouting or hitting an object. In controlled experiments, venting while thinking about the provocation kept anger active and was followed by more aggression than sitting quietly, and belief that venting helps increased the tendency to vent. A meta-analysis found that arousal-reducing activities lowered anger, whereas arousal-increasing activities did not reliably do so.

Where the site uses it

The venting hypothesis: what experiments show about letting anger out
Controlled experiments on venting anger found that it keeps anger active and increases aggression. This note reviews the evidence, its limits, and the regulation strategies that reduce anger instead.
Let anger cool instead of venting it
Hitting, shouting or ranting while focused on a provocation keeps anger active and increases aggression. Lowering arousal and gaining distance reduce anger without rehearsing it.

Studies behind it

The works the definition rests on, with the level of evidence each was appraised at.

Bushman, B. J., Baumeister, R. F., & Stack, A. D. (1999). Catharsis, aggression, and persuasive influence: Self-fulfilling or self-defeating prophecies?. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.76.3.367

Level B Experiment

Supports the claim that belief in catharsis increased the wish to vent and that venting was followed by more laboratory aggression. Brief provocations and laboratory aggression measures limit generalisation.
Bushman, B. J. (2002). Does venting anger feed or extinguish the flame? Catharsis, rumination, distraction, anger, and aggressive responding. doi:10.1177/0146167202289002

Level B Experiment

Supports the claim that hitting a punching bag while ruminating produced more anger and aggression than doing nothing. A single laboratory experiment with a noise-blast aggression measure.
Kjærvik, S. L., & Bushman, B. J. (2024). A meta-analytic review of anger management activities that increase or decrease arousal: What fuels or douses rage?. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102414

Level A Meta-analysis

Supports the claims that arousal-decreasing activities reduced anger and aggression and that arousal-increasing activities were ineffective overall. The arousal-increasing studies were heterogeneous, so conclusions about specific activities such as running are less certain.