Something primal

[Barrett Dorko]

According to one reviewer, Moe Howard had the world’s lowest threshold for irritability.

I’ve heard several commentaries about this new movie and, not surprisingly, they’ve made me think about how therapy might be connected to it. One in particular spoke of how we now live in an age where we’re used to seeing reality shows that depict actual harm and many find them entertaining. I’ll let the readers make up a list.

But maybe as a culture we’re past the ability to blithely believe that the violence depicted only results in fake depictions of hurt and not actual injury. I discussed this with a patient who proclaimed she didn’t want to see any more of that. Then I told her that there’s a scene showing Moe putting the cutting edge of a chain saw on Curly’s head.

She smiled.

What do you suppose is going on there?

[Barrett Dorko]

I spoke to my sister Laurel (70 this year) at some length yesterday and I told her I'd be posting this today.

"I remember you and Kevin watching those guys on TV and I hated it. Ken and I went to see the movie last week and it was really well-done. You're going, aren't you?"

More confusion.

[John W]

She probably hated your and Kevin's impersonations.

[Barrett Dorko]

Probably.

Not only did these guys fix our gaze upon them, many wanted to imitate them.

Again, why is this?

Considering their relation to pain, wouldn't a therapist want to speculate?

[PatrickL]

This may not be where you were heading with this. But I recall reading a theory that laughter serves the purpose of warning others about potential danger. I recall a documentary about chimps (or some primate) that highlighted how much their warning cries resemble laughter, when for example a tiger roamed through the undergrowth of their territory.

Perhaps viewing others hurting themselves, invokes a primal need to acknowledge the danger and warn others about it, and laughter is one way we do it.

Pat

[John W]

There's a thread on here somewhere about that strange patient behavior of giggling while describing horrible pain.

I don't recall having much success with those patients.

[PatrickL]

There's this saying too. "I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't laugh... But that is so funny" usually said in reply to hearing a tale of woe or misfortune.

[BrentC]

Barrett-
Ive thought of this too when I am trying to entertain my young nephews... The one thing that never fails to make them laugh is if I pretend to hurt myself. Definately a primal instinct.

This thread also brought to mind my favorite Far Side cartoon...

[Barrett Dorko]

I think that this short thread brings Larson's work into this quite nicely.

To me, there's a shade of absurdity I find funny. I can even laugh at the eval forms I've been asked to complete. There the violence is visited upon my psyche.

[gollygosh]

You either laugh or cry.