Catharsis

A belief in the necessity of catharsis. From the Ancient Greek κάθαρσις, meaning 'cleansing' or 'purging'; Coined as a dramaturgical concept by Aristotle in his Poetics. A medical metaphor that describes the extreme emotional transformation a soul undergoes as a result of experiencing intense emotion (sorrow, fear, pity, laughter, etc.) through the dramatic arts. A means of purging the soul and restoring its emotional balance.