Does the passage mention a modern version of relief theory?
TASK NINETEEN Read this comparative definition and answer the questions on page 91. This passage is more complex than others presented so far. Use a dictionary to check the meanings of words you do not know. Theories of Humor 1 Generally speaking, humor is a quality in an event or expression of ideas which often evokes a physical response of laughter in a person. 2 It is an evasive quality that over the centuries has been the subject of numerous theories attempting to describe its origins. 3 There are essentially three main theories of humor, each of which has a number of variants: the superiority theory, the incongruity theory, and the relief theory. 4 The superiority theory, which dates back to Aristotle, through Thomas Hobbes (1651) and Albert Rapp (1951), describes all humor as derisive. 5 In other words, people laugh at the misfortunes of others or themselves. 6 Humor is, therefore, a form of ridicule that involves the process of judging or degrading something or someone thought to be inferior for a variety of reasons such as speech patterns, or clumsiness. 7 While the superiority theory can describe some forms of humor, it cannot account for others. 8 For instance, wordplay and puns are not humorous because of misfortune, but because of inconsistency. 9 This incongruity as opposed to degradation is thought by others to be the source of humor. 10 The incongruity theory maintains that humor originates from disharmony or inappropriateness. 11 Koestler (1964), for example, argues that humor involves coexisting incompatible events. 12 In other words, when two opposite or opposing ideas or events exist at the same time, humor may emerge. 13 This may involve finding something inappropriate in something that is appropriate, which gives rise to a cognitive shift. 14 Take, for instance, this joke. 15 ”Two fish are in a tank. 16 One turns to the other and asks, ‘Do you know how to drive this thing?’” 17 The play on the word tank can result in laughter. 18 Although incongruity is widely accepted, this theory cannot explain instances where neither superiority nor incongruity are the bases for humor. 19 To account for humor that appears to be a form of release from psychological tension, theorists developed relief theory. 20 According to relief theory, humor provides relief from anxiety, hostility, aggression, and sexual tension. 21 Humor gratifies repressed feelings that operate on an unconscious level. 22 Strong proponents of this theory were early psychologists, such as Freud, Dewey, and Kline. 23 More modern theories of humor are essentially variations of one of these three traditional ones. 24 For instance, Duncan (1985), in his superiority theory, states that humor is linked to social status. 25 Deckers and Buttram (1990) expand incongruity theory to include elements of schema theory. 26 In their view, distinctions between and within schemata* are necessary for an understanding of humor. 27While each of these theories can explain some aspect of humor, none can successfully be applied to all instances of humor. 1. In which sentences are the different theories introduced? 2. What verb tense is used to introduce the theories of the various researchers? Why do you suppose this is? 3. Underline the sentence connectors in the passage. Why were they used? 4. What do you think might follow this discussion of humor theories-a presentation of the author’s own definition of humor, an analysis of one event using the different theories, Of something else? 5. Do you think that the whole passage is a GS text, that part of it is, or that none of it is? 6. Does the passage mention a modern version of relief theory? 7. Do you think that the author of this passage (Chris) has positioned herself as neutral, or do you think she has a preference? If you think she has a preference, what do you think it is? Why do you think so?
