Relief Theory: Etymology/Term, Definition, and Concept
Etymology/Term:
The term “Relief Theory” stems from the Latin word “relevare,” meaning to lift or alleviate. Coined in the context of humor studies, Relief Theory suggests a psychological and emotional lifting or alleviation through humor, emphasizing its role in providing comfort or relief from tension or distress.
Definition:
Relief Theory, as proposed by humor scholars such as Herbert Spencer and Sigmund Freud, posits that humor serves as a psychological mechanism to release pent-up tension or repressed thoughts, offering emotional relief. It suggests that laughter and comedic elements in various forms, including literature and performance, function as a coping mechanism by providing a cathartic release of built-up emotional energy.
| Concept | Description |
| Psychological Relief: | Humor acts as a psychological release, allowing individuals to cope with stress, anxiety, or discomfort. |
| Cathartic Function: | Laughter serves as a catharsis, providing an emotional outlet and helping individuals manage intense emotions. |
| Tension Alleviation: | The concept suggests that humor helps alleviate tension by allowing individuals to express and process emotions through laughter. |
| Repressive Release: | Relief Theory proposes that humor allows for the release of repressed thoughts or emotions in a socially acceptable manner. |
| Stress Reduction: | Laughter and comedic elements contribute to stress reduction, promoting mental and emotional well-being. |
| Emotional Comfort: | Humor provides emotional comfort by offering a light-hearted perspective on challenging or distressing situations. |
| Freudian Perspective: | Sigmund Freud’s application of Relief Theory emphasizes the role of humor in expressing and resolving unconscious conflicts. |
| Adaptive Function: | The concept suggests that humor and laughter have an adaptive function, aiding individuals in adapting to challenging circumstances. |
| Social Bonding: | Relief Theory acknowledges the social aspect of humor, highlighting how shared laughter fosters social bonds and solidarity. |
| Individual Coping Mechanism: | Humor is viewed as an individual coping mechanism, helping individuals navigate and cope with the complexities of life. |
Relief Theory: Major Theorists, Works, and Arguments
| Major Theorists | Key Works | Central Arguments |
| Herbert Spencer | “Principles of Psychology” (1855) | – Humor serves as a release of nervous energy, providing psychological relief and promoting well-being. |
| Sigmund Freud | “Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious” | – Humor acts as a means of expressing and resolving repressed thoughts and emotions, offering psychological relief. |
| “The Interpretation of Dreams” | – Laughter functions as a cathartic release, helping individuals cope with unconscious conflicts and emotional tension. | |
| Arthur Koestler | “The Act of Creation” (1964) | – Humor involves bisociation, a mental process where unrelated ideas or concepts are brought together, leading to a cathartic release. |
| John Morreall | “Taking Laughter Seriously” (1983) | – Proposes the Humor as Play theory, arguing that humor involves a playful frame that allows for the safe expression of tension. |
| “Comic Relief: A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humor” (2009) | – Extends Relief Theory by incorporating a broader philosophical perspective on the functions and benefits of humor. |
This table provides an overview of major theorists associated with Relief Theory, key works they have contributed, and the central arguments they put forth in understanding the role of humor in providing psychological relief.
Relief Theory: Key Principles with Examples
1. Psychological Relief:
- Description: Humor acts as a psychological release, alleviating stress and tension, providing individuals with emotional comfort.
- Example: A person laughs after a challenging day at work, finding relief from the accumulated stress.
2. Cathartic Function:
- Description: Laughter serves as a catharsis, offering an emotional outlet for individuals to express and manage intense feelings.
- Example: Watching a comedy show allows individuals to release built-up emotions and experience a sense of emotional cleansing.
3. Tension Alleviation:
- Description: Relief Theory suggests that humor helps alleviate tension by allowing individuals to express and process emotions through laughter.
- Example: A humorous remark diffuses a tense situation during a meeting, providing relief and easing interpersonal dynamics.
4. Repressive Release:
- Description: Humor facilitates the release of repressed thoughts or emotions in a socially acceptable manner, allowing individuals to address challenging topics.
- Example: Satirical comedy enables individuals to critique societal issues indirectly, offering a safe avenue for expressing dissent.
5. Stress Reduction:
- Description: Laughter and comedic elements contribute to stress reduction, promoting mental and emotional well-being.
- Example: Engaging in humorous activities, such as watching a funny movie, helps reduce stress and uplift mood.
6. Emotional Comfort:
- Description: Humor provides emotional comfort by offering a light-hearted perspective on challenging or distressing situations.
- Example: Sharing a joke with friends during difficult times brings emotional comfort and fosters a sense of camaraderie.
7. Freudian Perspective:
- Description: Sigmund Freud’s application of Relief Theory emphasizes the role of humor in expressing and resolving unconscious conflicts.
- Example: Freudian jokes often involve revealing suppressed desires, providing insight into the unconscious mind.
8. Adaptive Function:
- Description: Relief Theory suggests that humor and laughter have an adaptive function, aiding individuals in adapting to challenging circumstances.
- Example: In adverse situations, individuals may use humor to reframe their perspective and cope adaptively with difficulties.
9. Social Bonding:
- Description: Relief Theory acknowledges the social aspect of humor, highlighting how shared laughter fosters social bonds and solidarity.
- Example: Group laughter during a social event strengthens interpersonal connections and creates a sense of community.
10. Individual Coping Mechanism:
- Description: Humor is viewed as an individual coping mechanism, helping individuals navigate and cope with the complexities of life.
- Example: A person uses humor to cope with personal challenges, finding solace and resilience through laughter.
Relief Theory: Criticism Against It
1. Oversimplification of Humor:
- Critics argue that Relief Theory oversimplifies the multifaceted nature of humor by primarily focusing on its cathartic function. It may neglect other aspects, such as the social and cultural dimensions of humor.
2. Individual Variability:
- One criticism is that Relief Theory may not account for the individual variability in responses to humor. What provides relief for one person might not have the same effect for another, challenging the theory’s universality.
3. Limited Cultural Considerations:
- Critics contend that Relief Theory might not adequately address cultural variations in humor. What constitutes relief through humor can vary significantly across different cultural contexts, making the theory less universally applicable.
4. Ignoring Positive Humor:
- The theory is accused of focusing predominantly on negative emotions and stress relief, potentially overlooking the positive aspects of humor that contribute to joy, amusement, and positive social interactions.
5. Neglect of Cognitive Aspects:
- Some critics argue that Relief Theory places insufficient emphasis on the cognitive aspects of humor, such as incongruity and surprise, which play a crucial role in generating laughter.
6. Lack of Comprehensive Framework:
- Relief Theory is criticized for not providing a comprehensive framework that accounts for the wide range of humor types and functions, limiting its explanatory power in diverse humor-related phenomena.
7. Tautological Argument:
- Critics suggest that Relief Theory’s proposition that humor provides relief from tension can be tautological, as it defines humor by its supposed effect rather than identifying specific characteristics that make something humorous.
8. Insufficient Attention to Social Dynamics:
- The theory has been faulted for not sufficiently addressing the social dynamics of humor. It may not adequately explain how humor functions as a social glue, fostering group cohesion and communication.
9. Neglecting Positive Stress:
- Relief Theory tends to focus on stress reduction but may overlook instances where positive stress or arousal contributes to the enjoyment of humor. This limitation may lead to an incomplete understanding of humor’s psychological effects.
10. Lack of Developmental Perspective:
- Critics argue that Relief Theory does not provide a developmental perspective on humor, neglecting how humor appreciation and function may change across different stages of life. It may not account for the evolving nature of humor experiences.
Relief Theory: Application in Critiques
1. Play – “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett:
- Application: Relief Theory can be applied to analyze the humor in “Waiting for Godot,” showcasing how the absurdity and repetitive nature of the characters’ waiting serve as a form of relief from existential tension. The play’s humor provides a cathartic release for the characters and the audience in confronting the uncertainties of life.
2. Poems – Selected Works of Emily Dickinson:
- Application: Relief Theory can be used to interpret Emily Dickinson’s poems, particularly those that employ humor as a coping mechanism in the face of existential and societal challenges. The witty and often ironic tone in her poetry may be seen as offering emotional relief through linguistic play.
3. Short Story – “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson:
- Application: Relief Theory can be applied to analyze the dark humor in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery.” The unexpected twist in the story, where a seemingly ordinary ritual turns sinister, may provide relief through shock, forcing readers to confront societal norms and generating a cathartic release of tension.
4. Novel – “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller:
- Application: Relief Theory is pertinent in understanding the satirical and dark humor in “Catch-22.” The absurdity of the situations faced by the characters in wartime becomes a source of relief, offering a coping mechanism for both the characters and readers dealing with the harsh realities of war.
5. Play – “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare:
- Application: Relief Theory is evident in the comedic elements of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The play’s intricate plot, mistaken identities, and humorous interplay among characters provide relief from the more serious themes, offering a lighthearted escape and emotional release for the audience.
In each case, Relief Theory facilitates an analysis of how humor functions within the literary work to provide relief from tension, stress, or existential challenges. It helps uncover the ways in which humor contributes to the overall emotional experience and impact of the literature.
Relief Theory: Main Terms Used in It
| Term | Definition |
| Psychological Relief | Humor serves as a psychological release, alleviating stress and tension, providing emotional comfort. |
| Cathartic Function | Laughter acts as a catharsis, offering an emotional outlet for individuals to express and manage intense feelings. |
| Tension Alleviation | Humor helps alleviate tension by allowing individuals to express and process emotions through laughter. |
| Repressive Release | Humor facilitates the release of repressed thoughts or emotions in a socially acceptable manner. |
| Stress Reduction | Laughter and comedic elements contribute to stress reduction, promoting mental and emotional well-being. |
| Emotional Comfort | Humor provides emotional comfort by offering a light-hearted perspective on challenging or distressing situations. |
| Freudian Perspective | Sigmund Freud’s application of Relief Theory emphasizes the role of humor in expressing and resolving unconscious conflicts. |
| Adaptive Function | Relief Theory suggests that humor and laughter have an adaptive function, aiding individuals in adapting to challenging circumstances. |
| Social Bonding | Relief Theory acknowledges the social aspect of humor, highlighting how shared laughter fosters social bonds and solidarity. |
| Individual Coping Mechanism | Humor is viewed as an individual coping mechanism, helping individuals navigate and cope with the complexities of life. |
Relief Theory: Suggested Readings
- Berger, Arthur Asa. An Anatomy of Humor. Transaction Publishers, 1993.
- Freud, Sigmund. Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious. W. W. Norton & Company, 1990.
- Koestler, Arthur. The Act of Creation. Penguin Books, 1967.
- Morreall, John. Taking Laughter Seriously. State University of New York Press, 1983.
- Morreall, John. Comic Relief: A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humor. Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.
- Svebak, Sven, and A. Michael Davies. The Physiology and Psychology of Laughter. Springer, 1977.
- Ziv, Avner. Personality and Sense of Humor. Springer, 1988.