Why is destruction so satisfying?

Why is destruction so satisfying?

Controlling the destruction of something gives us a sense of power and can also produce other feelings such as awe.


Asked By: Roger Cai, Wakefield

Feeling in control is a basic human need and one theory posits that deliberately destroying things is incredibly satisfying because it makes us feel powerful. Anecdotal evidence from visitors to ‘anger rooms’ indicates that there’s also a cathartic element, especially when we’ve been suppressing frustration in our everyday lives. Many people also get a thrill from watching things being smashed to pieces.

In this case, curiosity, awe and aesthetics are at play as we wonder how long the doomed object will survive and how it will look when it explodes.

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