Richard D. Alexander:
"Indirect reciprocity is the reason that very few things are more relevant to our individual social success than the ability to see ourselves as others see us and respond appropriately (which means, I think, to cause them to see us as we wish them to, and not otherwise).
... I consider the hypothesis that humor is a principle according to which the evolved abilities and tendencies of people to see themselves as others see them, to use ostracism to their own advantage, are manipulated so as to induce status shifts - both subtle and not so subtle. My general hypothesis is that humor is a form of ostracism and that, historically, at least, ostracism has tended to affect the reproduction of the ostracized individual (or group) deleteriously, especially in relation to the reproduction of the ostracizers, by restricting access to significant resources.
... Thus, Robinson (1977) says that '... There is a pecking order to joke-telling. The joketeller is the dominant one[.]' "
[Also see: John Cleese on laughter]
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen