Sarcasm, irony, and dry humor are all enjoyable forms of mockery, for the mocker. The one who is mocked normally gets teased through these mediums, taking it lightly and moving on. Psychology Today's Dr. Clifford Lazarus digs deeper, indicating sarcasm's actual harmful roots. "Sarcasm is hostility disguised as humor," according to Lazarus, and it can potentially disrupt personal relationships. Cutting this underlying negativity out will improve your relationships and boost your overall well being; behind every "joke" is some truth, a "just kidding" is really a cover up. The term sarcasm stems from the Greek term "sarkazein" meaning "to tear or strip the flesh off." This brutal image is the basis for today's word, further implying the psychological disdain sarcasm is meant to inflict. Next time, before laughing at a clever jab, Lazarus would advise thinking about its cruel meaning instead.
Does sarcasm normally take the form of teasing? Yes. Are there some that take sarcastic comments as insults? Yes. But instead of entirely sympathizing with the victims of sarcasm, a lot could be gained from its contributions. Lazarus does point out that sarcasm can bring an element of clever wit into a conversation. Used in moderation, sarcasm is excellent in spicing up an interaction, forcing the participants to take a break from the literal. This sort, however, must be heavy on humor and light on bite. While being considered close cousins, there is a line that separates humor from sarcasm. Humor can lack the ridiculing nature that its cynical counterpart cannot. It is difficult to exemplify sarcasm in a way that does not belittle somebody. Because of this, sarcasm is potentially relationship threatening. Pure humor has the same beneficial qualities, with minimal hurtful backlash.
-Ryan Scanlon
Works Referenced:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/think-well/201206/think-sarcasm-is-funny-think-again
"No, Groucho is not my real name, I am breaking it in for a friend." -Groucho Marx
http://www.sarcasmsociety.com/sarcastic-quotes.html
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