If you impartially pay attention to the processes within you, and long enough, I’m pretty sure that you will notice that Expressions of Contempt have a pay-off that is far more substantial than “letting off steam.” And certainly more reality-based than expecting the target to change whatever it is you hold contemptible in them.

What’s the real pay-off; the actual motive force for such expression? It’s that mighty rush of adrenaline flooding the system. End of story.