WHY DOES CURSING MAKE LAUGH? A PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH

Yıl 2024, , 537 - 548, 20.10.2024

Yusuf Emre , Zeliha Subaşı

https://doi.org/10.35379/cusosbil.1327952

Öz

Swearing is considered as an unwelcome act since it is deemed impolite to society. However, it is seen that the behaviour swearing has become pravelent in human life. What functions do the taboo words serve in an individual’s life? If swearing is merely an expression of aggression, how and why can it make people laugh? This study aims to understand why the act of swearing produced from taboo words is perceived as amusing by focusing on the relationship between profanity and humor. In this context, it is aimed to determine the role of swearing in human behavior by trying to answer the question of how taboo words are acquired during the developmental process. In addition, the study addresses the functions of swearing in an individual’s life and interactions with others aiming to understand the motivations behind the use of words prohibited by society. Finally, the question of why some swear words are perceived as humorous has been explored through the common denominators between swearing and humor. It was found that swear words serve various functions in human life, one which is generating absurdity and thus opening the door to humor. Subsequently, the study explains the conditions and mechanisms under which an aggressive act such as swearing serves the purpose of entertainment.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Psychology, Taboo Words, Cursing, Humor, Funny

KÜFÜR NEDEN GÜLDÜRÜR? PSİKOLOJİK BİR YAKLAŞIM

Öz

Küfretme, toplum içinde kaba ve nezaketsiz bulunduğu için hoş karşılanmayan bir eylem olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Buna karşın küfretme davranışının yaygın olarak insan hayatında yer edindiği görülmektedir. Bireyin yaşamında yasaklı kelimelerin ne gibi işlevleri vardır? Küfretme davranışı salt bir saldırganlık ifadesiyse nasıl ve neden güldürebilmektedir? İşte bu çalışma küfür ve mizah arasındaki ilişkiyi konu edinerek tabu kelimelerden üretilen küfretme eyleminin komik olarak algılanma nedenini anlamak istemektedir. Bu doğrultuda öncelikle yasaklı kelimelerin gelişimsel süreçte nasıl edinildiği sorusu cevaplanmaya çalışılarak küfretmenin insan davranışlarındaki yeri belirlenmek istenmiştir. Ayrıca küfretmenin bireyin hayatındaki ve diğer insanlarla etkileşimindeki işlevlerine temas edilmiş, toplum tarafından yasaklanan kelimelerin kullanılma motivasyonları anlaşılmaya çalışılmıştır. Küfürlü sözlerin bazılarının neden komik olarak algılandığı sorusuna küfür ile mizah arasındaki ortak paydalar üzerinden yanıt aranmıştır. Bu süreçte küfür kelimelerinin insan hayatında çeşitli işlevler üstlendiği, bu işlevlerden birinin de tuhaflık üretip mizaha kapı aralamak olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Devamında küfür gibi saldırgan bir eylemin eğlenme amacına hangi şartlarda ve nasıl hizmet ettiği açıklanmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Psikoloji, Tabu Kelimeler, Küfretmek, Mizah, Komik

Kaynakça

• Bushman, B. J., Baumeister, R. F., & Stack, A. D. (1999). Catharsis, aggression, and persuasive influence: Self-fulfilling or self-defeating prophecies? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76, 367-376. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.76.3.367.
• Byrne, E. (2020). Hayat sövünce güzel (P. Vural, Çev.). The Kitap.
• Cameron, P. (1969). Frequency and kinds of words in various social settings, or what the hell is going on? The Pacific Sociological Review, 12(2), 101–104. JSTOR. https://doi.org/10.2307/1388561.
• Cavazza, N., & Guidetti, M. (2014). Swearing in political discourse: Why vulgarity works. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 33(5), 537-547. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261927X14533198.
• Cohen, J. (1961). The natural history of swearing. ETC: A Review of General Semantics, 18(3), 275–281.
• Daly, N., Holmes, J., Newton, J., & Stubbe, M. (2004). Expletives as solidarity signals in FTAs on the factory floor. Journal of Pragmatics, 36(5), 945–964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2003.12.004.
• Fairman, C. M. (2009). Fuck: Word taboo and protecting our First Amendment liberties. Sphinx Publishing. Feinberg, L. (2004). Mizahın sırrı. Millî Folklor, 16(62), 105-113.
• Fine, M. G., & Johnson, F. L. (1984). Female and male motives for using an obscenity. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 3(1), 59-74. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261927X8431004.
• Freud, S. (2003). Espiriler ve bilinçdışı ile ilişkileri (E. Kapkın, Çev.). Payel Yayınevi.
• Freud, S. (2016). Dinin kökenleri (S. Budak, Çev.). Öteki Yayınevi.
• Goodenough, F. L. (1931). Anger in young children. The University of Minnesota Press.
• Graves, R. (1927). Lars porsena or the future of swearing and improper language. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.
• Guiraud, P. (1999). Anlambilim (B. Vardar, Çev.). Multilingual.
• Hirsch, R. (1985). Swearing and the expression of the emotions (pp. 61-80). Department of Linguistics, University of Göteborg. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-85140.
• Hughes, G. I. (2006). An encyclopedia of swearing: The social history of oaths, profanity, foul language, and ethnic slurs in the English-speaking world. M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
• Jay, T. (1992). Cursing in America: A psycholinguistic study of dirty language in the courts, in the movies, in the schoolyards and on the streets. John Benjamins Publishing Co.
• Jay, T. (1999). Why we curse: A neuro-psycho-social theory of speech. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
• Jay, T. (2009). The utility and ubiquity of taboo words. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4(2), 153–161. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6924.2009.01115.x.
• Jay, T. B. (2009). Do offensive words harm people? Psychology, Public Policy, and Law,15, 81-101.
• Jay, T., King, K., & Duncan, T. (2006). Memories of punishment for cursing. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, pp. 55, 123-133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-006-9064-5.
• Johnson, D. I., & Lewis, N. (2010). Perceptions of swearing in the work setting: An expectancy violations theory perspective. Communication Reports, 23(2), 106-118. https://doi.org/10.1080/08934215.2010.511401.
• Kane, T. R., Suls, J., & Tedeschi, T. (1977). Humor as tool of social interaction. In A. J. Chapman (Ed.) & H. C. Foot (Ed.), It’s a funny thing, humour (pp. 13-16). Pergamon Press.
• Lancker, D. V. & Cummings, J.L. (1999). Expletives: neurolinguistic and neurobehavioral perspectives on swearing, Brain Research Reviews, 31, 83–104.
• Martin, R. A. (2007). The psychology of humor: An integrative approach. Elsevier Academic Press.
• Philipp, Michael C. ve Lombardo L. (2017). Hurt feelings and four letter words: Swearing alleviates the pain of social distress, European Journal of Social Psychology, 47, 517–523.
• Mohr, M. (2015). Küfür etmenin kısa tarihi (Z. D. Abacı, Çev.). Aylak Kitap.
• Montagu, M. F. A. (1942). On the physiology and psychology of swearing. Psychiatry, 5(2), 189-201. https://doi.org/10.1080/00332747.1942.11022392.
• Morreall, J. (1997). Gülmeyi ciddiye almak (K. Aysevener & Ş. Soyer, Çev.). İris Yayıncılık.
• Öngören, F. (1998). Cumhuriyet’in 75. Yılında Türk mizahı ve hicvi. Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları.
• Patrick, G. T. W. (1901). The psychology of profanity. Psychological Review, 8(2), 113-127. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0074772.
• Philipp, M. C., & Lombardo, L. (2017). Hurt feelings and four letter words: Swearing alleviates the pain of social distress. European Journal of Social Psychology, 47(4), 517-523. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2264.
• Pinker, S. (2007). The stuff of thought: language as a window into human nature (Reprint edition). Penguin Books.
• Rassin, E., & Muris, P. (2005). Why do women swear? An exploration of reasons for and perceived efficacy of swearing in Dutch female students. Personality and Individual Differences, 38(7), 1669-1674. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2004.09.022.
• Robbins, M. L., Focella, E. S., Kasle, S., López, A. M., Weihs, K. L., & Mehl, M. R. (2011). Naturalistically observed swearing, emotional support, and depressive symptoms in women coping with illness. Health Psychology, 30, 789-792. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023431.
• Rothbart, M. K. (2007). Incongruity, problem-solving and laughter. In A. Chapman (Ed.), Humor and laughter: Theory, research, and applications (pp. 37-54). Transaction Publishers.
• Scherer, C. R., & Sagarin, B. J. (2006). Indecent influence: The positive effects of obscenity on persuasion. Social Influence, 1(2), 138-146. https://doi.org/10.1080/15534510600747597.
• Schopenhauer, A. (1909). The world as will and idea (R. Haldane & J. Kemp, Trans.; 7th ed.). Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co.
• Schutz, C. (1977). The psycho-logic of political humour. In A. Chapman & H. Foot (Ed.), It’s a funny thing, humour (pp. 65-69). Pergamon Press.
• Stapleton, K. (2010). Swearing. In M. Locher A. & S. Graham L. (Ed.), Interpersonal pragmatics (Handbooks of Pragmatics 6) (pp. 289-306). De Gruyter.
• Stephens, R., Atkins, J., & Kingston, A. (2009). Swearing as a response to pain. Neuroreport, 20(12), 1056-1060. https://doi.org/10.1097/WNR.0b013e32832e64b1.
• Stapleton, K. (2010). Swearing. In M.A. Locher & S.L. Graham (Eds.), Interpersonal pragmatics (pp. 289-306). Berlin, Germany: De Gruyter Mouton.
• Suls, J. M. (1983). Cognitive processes in humor appreciation. In P. E. McGhee & J. H. Goldstein (Ed.), Handbook of Humor Research (C. 1-1, pp. 39-57). Springer.
• Vaishnavi, S., Rao, V., & Fann R.J. (2009). Neuropsychiatric problems after traumatic brain injury: unraveling the silent epidemic, Psychosomatics, 50:3, 198-205.
• Vingerhoets, A., Bylsma, L., & Vlam, C. (2013). Swearing: A biopsychosocial perspective. Psychological Topics, 22, 287-304.