TheSexualFunctionandtheReliefTheoryofHumour
Introduction:
Humour is an easily overlooked yet necessary part of humanity It plays various roles in social interactions and maintains a vital role in the upkeep of the human psyche This essay will discuss the manifestation of the relief theory through the sexual function of humour I will use conceptual and real-worldexamplestounderstandthetwotheoriesbetter
The sexual function and relieftheoryofhumourareofsuchinterestbecauseitseffectsareunique to the human experience and are necessary for humans to operate healthily in modern-day society
Sigmund Freud famously believed that sexuality controlled everything human [5] and required a unique approach and perspective Although sexual taboo was diminishing at his time, society had not yet expelled it Tothisday,thetaboostillexists Thesexualfunctionandrelieftheoryofhumourexplainhow humansinteractwiththistaboo.
After this introduction, theessaywillinvestigateandexplainthesexualfunctionandrelieftheory of humour. Then, the essay will evaluatethefunctionandtheory,consideringtheworksofAvnerZivand JohnMorreall.Finally,theessaywillconcludewithmythoughtsonthetopic.
WhatistheReliefTheoryofHumour?
The origins of the relief theory aim to justify two critical areas of the human character: sublimation of inner desires and the transgression of taboo. The theory accepts that human nature is no different from an animal, but man must perform above their fundamental needs because of modern societal constraints. As such, topicssuchassexbecomeshroudedintaboo.Althoughthisveilhasthinned out as society has become more progressive, the implicit expectations for people tobehaveproperlystill exist. It would be inappropriate to walk outdoors without clothes, even though clothing is an artificial construct Though nearly all adult humans are aware of the humananatomyofbothgenders,mostwould be shocked if I were towalkintoacoffeeshopunclothed Thesurprisewouldoccurnotbecauseofalack of knowledge but becauseofthesocietalexpectationtoactwithacertaindignityandgrace Asaresultof this expectation, the animalistic thoughtsoftheindividualgounexpressed Thesuppressionofsuchurges is unhealthy For humans to haveafulfillinglife,suchurgesmustbemanifested However,toexpressthe urgeswithinsocietalconstraintsisadelicatebalance
Thatiswhererelieftheorycomesin
The sublimation of inner desires is the process where humans can express their impulses by transforming their initially considered ‘low’ level desires into ‘high’ level desires This process, though not always, often results in humour To better understand the overarching construct of sublimation, let’s
look at an example where sexual humour is present. For instance, April MacieisanAmericancomedian that appeared on Tiffany Hadish Presents: They Ready, in which she joked about the invention of the vibrator [2] and the absurd circumstances inwhichitwasdeveloped Inthisinstance,the‘low’,beingthe taboo habit, becomes the ‘high’, as she can create an atmosphere of normality amongst herself and the audience The‘low’canevenbecomethe‘high’inthiscontextbecauseitmomentarilybreaksthetaboo
The transgression of the taboo allows the human self to live out the fantasy briefly By momentarily placing the taboo in a comedic context, the jokercanexpresstheirsexualdesiresinfrontof societywithoutjudgement,thusgivingthempleasureandgratification
We can attribute the validity of relief theory to sublimation and transgression; these transformative processes are even more apparent when looking at the sexual function of humour, which fallswithinthepurviewofrelieftheory
To understand the sexual function of humour, we must first understand its appeal.Asmentioned earlier, the sexual taboo has recently diminished but is still present in most parts of modern society. Exaggerated intensity and volume of sexual humour can be found where acceptable sexual outlets are scarce. Examples of such locations are prisons, sailors, andinhibitedteenagers.Thisphenomenonoccurs because of the two functions addressed below. The first function of sexual humour is that it enables humans to cope with expectations, disappointments, and anxieties regarding interpersonal romance. The second function of sexual humour is that it enables the individual to experience sexual satisfaction without partaking in sexual activity. Sexual humour enriches the sexual experience and plays anintegral roleinhealthyrelationshipsandattitudestowardssex.
The sexual function of humour enables avarietyoffunctionswithinhumans.Firstly,humanscan express disappointment and fantasies regarding sex within a humorous context. Secondly, humans can sublimate and transgress certain taboos regarding sex using the sexual function of humour, allowing the joke-makertoexperiencesexualsatisfactionwithoutparticipatinginsexualactivity
Because modern media and societal standards have vastly warped the expectations of sex, the reality tends to be inferior or superior to the prediction The frustration is oftenexpressedusinghumour, which makes the articulation socially acceptable For example, Robert Benigni’s 1988 film “The Little Devil”followstheadventuresofFatherMaurice AdrivingthemeinthefilmisFatherMaurices’inability to determine his position with Patricia, a woman deeply in love with him [1] This complication is a constant conflict within Father Maurice and can be interpreted as Benigi venting his disappointment regardingsexualrelationshipswiththestory’smaincharacter
WhatistheSexualFunctionofHumour?The sublimation andtransgressionofsexualtaboosareeasilyseeninmodernmedia.Aschanging the context enables the taboo tobetemporarilysociallyacceptable,humansusesexualhumourtoexpress their inner desires without facing backlash Quentin Tarantino, awell-knownmoviedirector,isnotorious for having actresses show off their toes in his movie scenes Film stars such as Selma Hayek, Margot Robbie, and Uma Thurman have put their toes in the spotlight in Tarantino’s films [4] The director has publicly admitted to having a foot fetish, but since he focuses on his fetish inhisfilmsjokingly,viewers are less inclined to judge his depraved preference He can also live out his sexual fantasy without participatingintheactivity
EvaluationofSexualFunctionandReliefTheoryofHumourAccordingtoAvnerZivandJohnMorreall Avner Ziv is currently a professor at Tel Aviv University, working in the Department of Psychology and Education, where he has published works regarding personality and humour John Morreall is a Doctor ofPhilosophyandEmeritusProfessorofReligiousStudiesattheCollegeofWilliam and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he has published books about the philosophies behind humour. Both academics haveinvestigatedthesexualfunctionandrelieftheoryofhumour,bothofwhich will be used to provide an external perspective to this essay. Avner Ziv explores the sexual function of humour in “Personality and Sense of Humour”, while John Morreall delves into the relief theory of humourin“TheReliefTheory”.
In “Personality and Sense of Humour” by Avner Ziv, the first presented idea is that of Sigmund Freud; sexuality has authority over everything human. Secondly, Ziv believedthatthetabooonsexuality has diminished, though not disappeared. However,Zivnotedasignificantincongruitybetweenthesexual function of humour and the passing of time. As the taboo surrounding sex decreases, sexual humour should similarly decrease (given increasing social outlets for sex). However, Ziv noticed that sexual humour remained thesame,indicatingthatthesexualfunctionofhumourhadlesstodowithsexualtaboo thanwethought.
Ziv attributed sexual humour more as an expression of sexual pleasures, disappointments, and anxieties
Firstly, Ziv compares the experience of sex with French gastronomy and states that sexual humourissimilartowinetastingduringanexcellentmeal:itfurthersatiatestheappetiteandincreasesthe overallsatisfactionoftheexperience
Secondly, Ziv describes how sexual liberation hasalloweddiscussionsofsexualdisappointments in comedic environments Ziv again brings up Freud and talks about how sex is a “veiled mystery” to children and builds up significant expectations Experiencing actual sex often turns the expectation into disappointment and can be debilitating for the individual As a coping mechanism, the person may use
sexual humour to look at the disappointing aspects of sex less seriously. Ziv attributed this coping mechanism to the importance of sex to the human being; it would be a moreworthwhiletrade-offtouse humourtocalibratetheattitudetowardssexratherthancompletelyneglectit[5]
Thirdly, Ziv simplifies sexual humour as a defence mechanism against sexual anxieties by ridiculing the anxiety to producerelief Thisdefencemechanismallowstheindividualtograpplewiththe daunting elements of sex and allows further participation with increased gratification and none of the apprehension [5] Overall, sexual humour allows the individual to enjoy further, rekindle optimism, and fendoffconcernsregardingsexualrelationships
In “TheReliefTheory”byJohnMorreall,thephilosophiesofFreudandHerbertSpencerareused to establish the foregrounds of the investigation Morreall first claims that prohibitions build up an increased desire to participate in theforbidden,abehaviourdisplayedfromanearlyage Then,headdsto the assertion by using Spencer’s theory that emotions taketheformofnervousenergyinthebody,which is then released by laughter Morreall then adds to Freud’s theory that nervous energy is inhibited in the circumstances regarding the taboo of sex, which is then released. Finally, Morreall investigates various contradictions and variances in both the simple relieftheoryandFreud’scomplextheory,concludingthat neithertheorycanstandasacomprehensivetheoryoflaughter[3].
Conclusion:
Sexual humour is integral to the sexual experience and modern-day society: the sexual function andrelieftheoryofhumourattempttoaddressthecharacteristicsandjustificationsofsexualhumour.Toa certain extent, as discussed by Morreall, relief theory is one rationale for laughter. However, in a sexual context, multiple layers of reasoning existtounravel.AsexplainedbyZiv,thesexualfunctionofhumour provides threemainreasonsforsexualhumour,allofwhichappearlogicalinmodernscenarios.Although the theory and the function are valid and explicable, they only cover a relativelylimitedscopeofhuman nature, while sex is everywhere and ever-changing. With near infinite manifestations in the modern travesty of society, sexual humourmaintainsanirreplaceablepositionthatwillholdpermanentregardless ofourattemptstounravelitsorigins
Bibliography: [1] “The Little Devil” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 July 2022, https://enwikipediaorg/wiki/The Little Devil [2] Macie, April, director 15 Minutes of Comedians on Sex | Netflix Is A Joke Youtube,6Sept 2020, youtubecom/watch?v=VcDYUnKd7BI Accessed28July2022
[3] Morreall, John. “The Relief Theory.” Taking Laughter Seriously, State University of New York Press,NewYork,NY,1983,pp 20–37
[4] Stolworthy, Jacob “Quentin Tarantino Has Explained Why He Has a ‘Fetish’ for Women’s Feet in His Films” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 1 Oct 2021, https://wwwindependentcouk/arts-entertainment/films/news/quentin-tarantino-films-feet-b1930458html
[5] Ziv,Anver Personality and Sense of Humour SpringerPublishingCompany,1984