A motivational look at Catharsis is investigated. It is assumed that
a) the goal to aggress increases the accessibility of aggressive constructs, b) that this heightened accessibility is inhibited after goal-fulfillment and c) that aggressive behavior is reduced after goal-fulfillment.
Study 1 showed an increase of aggressive constructs after priming the goal to aggress; after imagined and symbolic goal-fulfillment this accessibility was diminished.
Study 2 showed that after fulfilling the goal to aggress also aggressive behavior was reduced. In addition, a non-aggressive way of...