Sometimes we use humor as a defense mechanism against anxiety to maintain Psychological balance.
What are defense mechanism?
Defense Mechanisms are the unconscious techniques we employ to protect ourselves from pain , discomfort and anxiety. The stressors might be from the external world or the super Ego.
One such defense mechanisms is humor.
Examples
For instance;
1. A depressed individual watching a comedy short or movie to avoid distressing thoughts or emotions.
2. Humor can also be used to expressed inhibitions such as Sexual impulses without being direct to avoid conflict with the super ego. For instance; Two church mates chatting over sexual topics but using biblical quotes.
3. Sometimes, humor can act as an armor for instance in workplaces where an individual insecure about their adequacies always employs humor to avoid being taken seriously so that they’re not given serious responsibilities.
4. A young man rejected or abandoned by a girl may rationalize the event through humor for instance by saying; “I’m doing this girl a favour by approaching her and she’s rejecting me. Isn’t she aware I’m a future millionaire?
5. Humor may also be used to indirectly pass aggressive or unacceptable impulses such as envy or anger. For instance; “I know now that you have won we won’t be able to breathe”
6. An individual receives distressing information and replys by laughing it out.
7. After encountering a failure, one engaging in a self-desparaging humor for instance; “It’s like I’m a certified failure” or “The devil signed the curse letter meant fr me before I was Born”
8. College student fails in an exam and states “You know I studied to come to the college, I did not come to the college to study.”
9. In a funeral, a familly member may share a humorous story about the deceased as a way of bearing with the loss.
10. Some Behavioral experts suggest that people who use humor and jokes are occasionally masking a fear of judgement. The constant jokes are pre-emptive strikes to disarm others before they see their real selves for instance; An aspect of their lives they’re ashamed of.
11. In art, Most artists especially writers use humor to pass message that would otherwise be impossible to pass had it been written directly.
Is it Adaptive or Maladaptive.?
As for many defense mechanism, humor can be Adaptive or Maladaptive depending on the situations it’s employed to.
But on a larger scale, Humor is considered as an adaptive defense mechanism.
Effects of Humor;
1. Humor especially the self-desparaging one may lead to low self-esteem.
2. Humor especially sarcasm may cause untold social relations problems.
3. Humor help to provide a temporary relief from an anxiety distressing event.
4. It may prevent us from addressing the root cause of our pain.
Related