Which concept holds that releasing aggressive energy relieves aggressive urges?

• A. Catharsis hypothesis
• B. Feel-good, do-good phenomenon
• C. Adaptation-level phenomenon
• D. General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is that venting anger or releasing aggressive energy can reduce the urge to aggress. This is described by the catharsis hypothesis, which holds that expressing anger provides a release that lowers the impulse to aggress further. Among the options, this concept directly captures the notion of relieving aggressive urges through an outlet for aggression. The other ideas address different phenomena: the feel-good, do-good phenomenon is about the happiness gained from helping others; the adaptation-level phenomenon concerns how judgments are influenced by a changing baseline of experience; and the General Adaptation Syndrome explains stages of the body's stress response. So the catharsis hypothesis is the one that best fits the idea of releasing aggressive energy to relieve aggression.