Do practical jokes elicit introspection in its victims?
Happy April Fool’s Day!
I happened to stumble upon a very interesting article in The New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/health/01mind.html?adxnnl=1&ref=science&adxnnlx=1207101830-z06O83efmy+Tt+hZ48C6kQ), which discusses practical jokes and the unique way in which they are able to elicit introspection in their victims. This is a very fascinating example of how an event or phenomenon that really DOESN’T exist is able to effect a series of events and thoughts in the brain, which are eventually perceived by the individual as REAL areas needing improvement.
Interestingly, practical jokes have been studied by psychologists for many years in the context of harassment and bullying. However, it is has been discovered that these jokes are more often used in a light-hearted manner, to bring initiates into a group (for example, a fraternity or sorority). But before they can join the ranks of already-established members, they must be humbled… So, in a way, the person is simultaneously honored (because they are smart, cool, gorgeous enough to join the “club”) and degraded.
A study was actually conducted where researchers subjected 55 men and women to a computerized cooperation game. They showed that participants who “felt they had been burned” would analyze the experience in their heads, ruminating about how they might have handled the situation more effectively. This phenomenon, termed counterfactual thinking, is one way an individual is able to isolate his/her shortcomings. Herein, lies the path for self improvement.
So what I’m wondering is if the jokes we encountered today (April’s Fools Day) intrinsically made us delve into our shortcomings? Perhaps this was conscious, perhaps it was not…I’m interested to hear what you think.
Grace