Catharsis: Living vicariously

  Warning: Today's media clips may contain foul language, and/or violence. This is not done to be offensive, just to prove the point of today's topic.
     Even if you are not familiar with the catharsis theory you have participated in it. Catharsis theory basically states that by people viewing morally wrong content (violence, crime, drug use, promiscuous sexual behavior) they are satisfying an urge in themselves and do not have to commit the acts depicted. Debates have been going on for years about whether or not watching stuff like this does more harm than good, primarily in the realm of violence (you can read arguments from both sides here and here).
     Debating aside, people are drawn to this content for different reasons. Some state it is curiousity, like people watching Faces of Death to see what someone dying looks like. Some are seeking to experience something they may not be able to do themselves, kind of like a manufactured daydream. A good example of living vicariously is the example of revenge. We've all had someone that has slighted us somehow. A friend, a rival, lover or boss. By society's standards we are taught to let it go, to have no type of reaction. When most of the time we would rather do something like this:

     Or another good example is the "flip out" moment (my own personal term) when life gets to be a little overwhelming we may have a desire to do something such as:

(oh come on, don't groan- you know you loved me using Kevin Spacey in both of those clips.) In both of these instances we know that if we were to act that way we would face serious consequences for our actions, but just viewing them satisfies some deep dark urge because we can connect with the desire to do .  
     Sex and nudity in media has a similar presence. There are numerous arguments for how nudity and sex in the media promote sex outside of marriage or committed relationships, affairs, and increased teen pregnancies. Yet there are positive aspects such as it serving as a safe outlet for people to explore their sexuality and live out their fantasies.
     What is most interesting to me is how controversial media has evolved over the years in television to go from being something that was simply present to satisfy the impulses of the audience to they now help to add depth to characters or enrich storylines. These characters, which are classified as morally grey, are often the protagonist. There are things these characters do that are wrong by society's standards and should make them not likeable, but their normal sides and emotions connect to us on a relate-able level and make us attached to them. A few brief examples are:
Dexter Morgan (from Dexter)- A father and brother in one part of his life and a serial killer in the other. The fact that he only kills other killers allow us to accept his "dark passenger" personality and we connect on his struggles to become a better person.
Gregory House (from House MD)- A brilliant, sarcastic, anti-social diganostician. He has a drug addiction but due to his fight to overcome it and how he saves a patient every week we still like him.
Walter White (from Breaking Bad)- A chemistry teacher that is diagnosed with terminal cancer who starts making meth in order to support his family.
Mary Margaret Blanchard and David Nolan (from Once Upon A Time)- Two characters having an affair that we root for because in another world they were Snow White and Prince Charming.
     In the end, I personally believe in the catharsis theory. People are complex emotional beings and sometimes living in civilized society stifles us. Through media we can let out feelings in a safe manner we would not be able to otherwise.
     How do you feel as a consumer of media? Do you believe morally questionable behavior and content (primarily sex and violence) provides a much needed outlet? Or does it harm its audience?