Reader questions – As defined Freud Humor?The answer to a reader’s question about the psychology of the joke. Opinion Peter Schneider0 comment humor was “lust for profit by savings feeling of effort,” writes Sigmund Freud. But what does he mean?Photo: Keystone
Sigmund Freud describes humour as “a lust for profit by the saved sense of effort”. Behind the statement is a kind of knowledge that fascinates me to diffuse, as I can sum it up in word should. Can you help me to Smile? H. S.
Dear Mr. S.
The standard example for this pleasure of the gallows humor: A Delinquent is guided on a Monday Early in the morning to the gallows and greeted his executioner with the words, “The week is a good start”. Freud comments: “The Humor is a means to gain pleasure despite the disturbing embarrassing affects; he is the same is in place.” The place of the fear of death the poor man, the soon to be executed sets a humorous Triumph. “The pleasure of humor arises at the cost of this failure to affect delivery (development of the fear of death, Red.), it appears from my savings affect effort.”
I fail to see this statement. I can imagine that a death of a candidate would like to make it with such a spell a certain amount of sovereignty to the Show. But that, therefore, his fear of death, and he saves a affect expenses, with these Savings then generates desire, seems to me very implausible.
The sense of Humor you have to be his own audience.
The thoughts of the lustful Effort, Freud had developed in connection with a joke, and within a Two-person psychology. This Schema works: The joke-teller makes the joke-listener, the effort that it takes for the joke of production for Overcoming (sexual, aggressive, logical) inhibitions, thus saving the listener, this effort and receives the gift of Laughter.
The Humor but you have to be his own audience. Or, to stay with the example, at least the hell does a Smile on your face. Even then, will probably hold the pleasure within narrow limits. By several of his biographers is, incidentally, recounted an anecdote, in the case of Freud himself by great gallows humor shines. Before he is allowed to leave Vienna, he must sign a Declaration, to be by the Nazis, been treated properly. He supplemented this Declaration with the addition of: “I can recommend the Gestapo to everyone for the Best.”
Freud’s sense of humour would have suited; but understandably, the insight was stronger, it would have been unwise to irritate the Nazis immediately prior to the exit unnecessarily. So, the last sentence is because, simply, and without pleasure: “the authorities and functionaries of the party are me and my housemates constantly correct and considerate countered. Wien, 4. June 1938. Prof. Dr. Sigm. Freud”.
comments please Log in to comment
