Which hypothesis suggests that venting negative emotions provides emotional relief but is often ineffective?

• A. Facial-Feedback Hypothesis
• B. Catharsis Hypothesis
• C. Grit
• D. Polygraph

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is that venting negative emotions provides emotional relief but is often ineffective. Venting can feel satisfying in the moment, but evidence shows that it often doesn’t reduce distress in the long run and can even make things worse by keeping attention on the negative emotion and increasing arousal or aggressive impulses. So although letting off steam might seem helpful, it’s not a reliable way to improve mood, and in some cases it can reinforce the very feelings you’re trying to escape. In practice, more constructive responses—like reframing the situation, problem-solving, or expressing emotions to someone supportive in a controlled way—tend to produce more lasting relief.

For context, the idea grows from earlier beliefs about catharsis, but modern findings suggest that how you vent matters. The other options deal with different ideas: the facial-feedback idea is about facial expressions shaping emotion, grit is about perseverance toward long-term goals, and a polygraph is a lie-detection tool.