Katagelasticism

Katagelasticism is a psychological condition in which a person excessively enjoys laughing at others (coined by Christian F. Hempelmann and Sean Harrigan[1] from καταγελαστής (katagelastēs), Ancient Greek for "mocker"). Katagelasticists actively seek and establish situations in which they can laugh at others (at the expense of these people). There is a broad variety of things that katagelasticists would do—starting from harmless pranks or word plays to truly embarrassing and even harmful, mean-spirited jokes.[2][3] They would be of the opinion that laughing at others is part of the daily life and if others do not like being laughed at, they should just fight back.[2][3] For the katagelasticists it is fun laughing at others and there is almost nothing that might hinder them from doing so. For them, some people even might provoke getting laughed at (and surely deserve being laughed at).[2][3] This condition often makes it difficult for sufferers to gain and maintain acquaintances and romantic partners.[2][3]

Research

The first academic paper to investigate this phenomenon was published in 2009.[2][3] Along with gelotophobia and gelotophilia it can be measured through a questionnaire that consists of 45 questions (the PhoPhiKat-45; the PhoPhiKat-30 is a short form that consists of 30 items). This is a reliable and valid instrument that has been used in a variety of studies.[2][3][4] The questionnaire is also online for a free self-assessment in German here.

Gelotophobia, gelotophilia, and katagelasticism describe three different stances towards laughter and laughing at. Empirical studies with the PhoPhiKat-45 show that, of course, people can not at the same time fear and like being laughed at (i.e., be gelotophobes and gelotophiles at the same time). However, there is at least a subgroup of gelotophobes that enjoys laughing at others, despite knowing how harmful this can be.[2][3] Finally, gelotophilia and katagelasticism are positively related; i.e., those who enjoy being laughed at might also enjoy laughing at others.[2][3]

See also

References
  1. Ruch, W.; R.T. Proyer (2009). "Extending the study of gelotophobia: On gelotophiles and katagelasticists" (PDF). Humor: International Journal of Humor Research. 22 (1–2): 183–212. doi:10.1515/HUMR.2009.009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-05-01.
  2. Ruch, W.; U. Beermann; R.T. Proyer (2009). "Investigating the humor of gelotophobes: Does feeling ridiculous equal being humorless?" (PDF). Humor: International Journal of Humor Research. 22 (1–2): 111–143. doi:10.1515/HUMR.2009.009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-05-01.
  3. Ruch, W; R.T. Proyer (2009). "Extending the study of gelotophobia: On gelotophiles and katagelasticists" (PDF). Humor: International Journal of Humor Research. 22 (1–2): 183–212. doi:10.1515/HUMR.2009.009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-05-01.
  4. Proyer, R.T.; C.F. Hempelmann; W. Ruch (2009). "Were they really laughed at? That much? Gelotophobes and their history of perceived derisibility" (PDF). Humor: International Journal of Humor Research. 22 (1–2): 213–231. doi:10.1515/HUMR.2009.010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-24.

Further reading
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