What is hidden behind a joke?

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It could be understood that, when we say “just kidding”, we try to excuse ourselves, trying to ensure that the other person does not get angry or realize our true ideas or opinions. Whether or not it is true in our case, what is true is that a joke often covers up hidden feelings or thoughts.

Behind a joke there can be different intentions. In this sense, a joke is a mockery, trap or trick that is done to someone on purpose to make them feel ridiculed or deceived, usually for humor.

The intention of a joke is to laugh at the recipient (or with him), but without causing him any harm. Of course, sometimes jokes hide inherent cruelty and are malicious, they have hidden intentions.

It is frequent that Some jokes exceed their limits and finish being truly cruel with its recipients, generating discomfort and discomfort in the recipient. That is, sometimes when someone is “telling a joke,” they are actually speaking from the utmost sincerity. The popular proverb already states it: “between jokes and jokes, the truth emerges.”

So, what is the function of a joke? Why do we use it to express what we feel or think? We talked about it.

Thoughts and feelings behind a joke

In these lines we do not want to downplay the function of humor, which provides great benefits for people. What’s more, it could be a sign of intelligence.

According to a study carried out at the University of Wien, Austria, People with a great sense of humor obtained very high scores in verbal intelligence and emotional intelligence.

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What happens is that at certain moments feelings or thoughts can be masked behind a joke. under the title of “joke”when he is actually trying to say something without making it look bad or too direct. In this sense, you say what you feel or think, closing the speech immediately with a “it was a joke” to take away the weight of what you want to express.

If the person receiving the message feels uncomfortable or attacked, the phrase “it was a joke” frees us from responsibility for what we had said, thus transforming the message and the situation into humor. We protect ourselves under the phrase “just kidding” and continue as if nothing had happened.

At that moment, we are justifying ourselves, taking away the real meaning of what we have said, avoiding a confrontation. We turn a statement into something unimportant or funny simply by indicating that it is a joke.

“Comedy is a funny way of telling the truth. My way of making jokes is to tell the truth. “That’s the funniest joke in the world.”

-Muhammad Ali-

Cover the truth with jokes

It could be understood then that saying “just kidding” means making excuses, We are looking for a free pass so that the other does not get angry or realize our true ideas or opinions.. In a way we disguise hidden feelings or thoughts behind a joke. Perhaps for fear of saying what we think or for fear of the reaction of others.

That is, joking can be a way to channel certain ideas and opinions that we do not want to say openly. Sigmund Freud highlights the role of humor as a means of knowing the repressed desires of a person and a society. Likewise, for Freud, the joke is a means to release emotional tension, which plays a civilizing role. Instead of directly attacking or attacking the other, clever language is used to express some hidden hostility.

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In short, jokes, in the right measure, fulfill a social function, they are a way of relating to people. Of course, if you are very joking and tend to cover truths with jokes, they will not believe you when you argue something that is true. In turn, if you are in front of someone who jokes constantly, Consider what he is trying to say and what the coded message is behind the joke.