Sometimes, understanding the essence of human behavior does not require long-term observation; a single sentence, a gesture, or an unexpected reaction can reveal a person’s worldview. This idea became particularly clear to me during a serious conversation with one of my friends. While discussing future plans and the role of education, I emphasized the importance of a university degree in providing certain opportunities, social status, and professional legitimacy. He, however, smiled calmly and remarked, “Yes, it’s important… it can also come in handy under the teapot or when chopping onions.”
At first glance, this joke seemed like a spontaneous reaction that lightened the gravity of our discussion. Yet, what caught my attention was not the content of the joke itself, but its context and emotional tone. I know that he is the kind of person who uses humor not only in such situations but also in generally stressful or high-pressure circumstances. Even when others feel anxious, pressured, or uncertain, his reactions display a peculiar calmness, emotional stability, and psychological distance.
Such behavior in everyday interactions may be perceived merely as a cheerful personality or social skill. However, a deeper analysis raises the question: is the use of humor in stressful situations an adaptive defense mechanism protecting the psyche, or a subconscious strategy to escape the emotional weight imposed by reality? Contemporary psychology recognizes humor as both a tool for emotional regulation and a strategy for coping with stress. At the same time, humor can sometimes serve to diminish the seriousness of problems or avoid emotional responsibility.
In this paper, the psychological nature of humor in high-stress situations will be examined, comparing its adaptive function as a defense mechanism with its potential risks as a form of emotional escape.
Reviewing the literature, Sigmund Freud, when writing about humor, did not describe it merely as an event that provokes laughter, but as a means for the psyche to protect itself. In his 1927 essay “Humour”, he explains how humor allows individuals to cope with suffering and the weight of reality. Freud describes humor as a form of defiance against the pressures of reality, temporarily freeing the individual from emotional strain. He famously wrote that “humor is the triumph of narcissism,” using the term “narcissism” in a positive sense to signify the ego’s ability to preserve itself and avoid damage.
According to a 2012 study by Andrea C. Samson and James J. Gross:
* Humor functions as a strategy for emotion regulation.
* It can reduce the impact of stress and negative emotions.
* People use humor to reframe challenging situations, a process akin to cognitive reappraisal, meaning they do not change the situation itself but rather alter their perspective on it.
A 2023 study investigating humor in stress management revealed that:
* Higher levels of humor were associated with lower perceived stress.
* Humor weakened the negative relationship between stress and avoidance coping strategies.
In another study, 201 professional participants (113 women and 88 men), aged 19–60 (mean age 37.76, SD = 12.04), were observed over one month (February–March 2017). The study concluded that the use of humor as a coping strategy played a partial mediating role in the relationship between workplace stress and job satisfaction, linking humor to reduced stress and increased workplace satisfaction.
Thus, humor is neither merely an escape strategy nor just a form of entertainment. Its function depends on the context, intention, and socio-cultural conditions of the situation. When used consciously and empathetically, humor not only serves as a means of self-protection, but also reduces tension, strengthens social bonds, and enhances emotional resilience. Even in the most stressful circumstances, appropriately applied humor can reveal an individual’s inner strength and psychological flexibility, while facilitating healthier interpersonal communication. In this sense, a single joke in a tense situation does more than elicit laughter; it represents a subtle yet powerful defensive line that the human psyche erects against the weight of life.
References:
1. Freud, S. (1927). Humour. In J. Strachey (Ed. & Trans.), The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud (Vol. 21, pp. 161–174). London, UK: Hogarth Press.
2. Samson, A. C., & Gross, J. J. (2012). Humor as emotion regulation: The differential consequences of negative versus positive humor. Cognition and Emotion, 26(2), 375–384. https
3. (2023). Humor and perceived stress: A study on coping strategies. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pages.
4. (2017). The role of humor in workplace stress and job satisfaction: A one-month study of 201 professionals. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pages.
