Üsküdar University Founding Rector and Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that well-timed jokes strengthen human psychology and social bonds, but jokes inappropriate for one's personality structure and culture have a negative impact.
On April 1st, unofficially celebrated as "Joke Day" worldwide, individuals and institutions from all segments of society make jokes specific to this date to create smiles, draw attention, convey messages, or advertise.
Evaluating the effects of jokes on human psychology and social life for an AA reporter, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan provided examples from studies conducted in this field.
Tarhan explained that positive jokes contribute to the reduction of stress hormones in the body and the increase of endorphins, which have muscle-relaxing and pleasure-inducing properties, while jokes that make a person feel bad, damage self-esteem, devalue the other party, and humiliate them, show an increase in stress and anger hormones.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, "Humor is an art. One needs to master the art of humor. Humor should contain a bit of wisdom and eloquence. If humor is used appropriately and correctly, a great truth, a great emotion, and a great concept can be expressed with few words. Humor has been used as a stress-reducing technique, especially in societies with high stress levels. For example, Nasrettin Hoca's emergence during Anatolia's most chaotic period is not a coincidence."
Tarhan, drawing attention to the fact that Turkey is a global value with Nasreddin Hoca's humor, continued as follows:
"Humor affects one's mood. If both parties feel good when humor is used, this strengthens social bonds. It can be used as a stress reduction technique. Another benefit of quality jokes that do not involve deception or humiliating the other party is that they build trust in a person. Some people are naturally predisposed to humor, are extroverted, and joke easily. For example, the Black Sea culture is one that can mock itself. It makes jokes and can also take them. A certain culture is needed for jokes. If someone without a joke-related culture makes a joke, they might inadvertently cause harm while trying to do good, potentially damaging relationships. Crude jokes are hurtful."
Destructive jokes
Tarhan warned that even an innocent-looking joke can lower a child's self-confidence, saying, "If someone wrote something on a child's back, tagged them, for example, wrote an animal's name, and everyone mocked them and applauded, it would have a traumatic effect on that child's developing psyche. In schools, this is considered peer bullying."
Tarhan emphasized that inappropriate jokes, even if they make someone laugh for a moment, can lead to destructive effects on a person, and advised those subjected to them to adopt an attitude to ensure the joke is not repeated.
Tarhan emphasized that some people turn jokes into a form of communication, stating, "A joke is good if it is timely and appropriate. Jokes that are not timely and appropriate diminish a person's respect in society, negatively affect their social status, and weaken the persuasive power of their words."
Tarhan stated that attention should be paid to the meaning within a joke and that its dosage should be well-adjusted, and expressed that wise jokes made to people under stress and in low spirits can positively affect their psychology.
"Vitamin M"
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that in some social environments, such as workplaces, humor can be used as a helpful method for problem-solving in organizational psychology.
Tarhan pointed out the existence of managers who shout and try to dominate, as well as those who adopt transformational leadership, stating, "A transformational leader can use humor as a method of persuasion when necessary. When you break down emotional walls with humor, a person dispels prejudices through humor."
Tarhan emphasized that humor can also be used in many fields such as politics and diplomacy to achieve a goal, and stated that when a joke is made, the other party must mentally 'buy into' the joke, in which case the person can achieve their goal and lead to change.
Tarhan stated that jokes inappropriate for one's personality structure and cultural situation can have the opposite effect.
Tarhan noted that humor with meaning that strengthens social bonds is referred to as "Vitamin M" in literature, and gave examples of anecdotes such as poet Neyzen Tevfik stepping aside in a narrow corridor to a bully who said, "I don't make way for a man worth five cents," by saying, "I do," and Nasrettin Hoca, when he fell off his donkey, making his difficult situation humorous by saying, "I was going to get off anyway."
Tarhan said, "Jokes like these are wise jokes. Such jokes are our social cultural capital. We need to support jokes that make us smile, laugh, and feel good in society; Turkey greatly needs this."