2. ID Ego Needs to satisfy ego, superego, and reality!
Wants sexual gratification NOW
Superego
Immoral (married, stranger, etc.)

3. Ego Id

4. Parapraxis
Humor Id

7. Write a funny caption for this picture

8. Findings Tend to write captions with sexual or aggressive themes
“Sorry for being late, I was just with your best friend”
Interestingly, rarely make such statements when asked what they might do in this situation

9. Themes
Sex
Aggression
Elimination

10. Why? Which part of the mind emphasizes these themes?
How does a joke work?
Surprise!

11. How a joke works The surprise “punch line” is important
Ego doesn’t have a chance to defend against it
Rush of pleasure comes from sudden release of tension
Tension released because repressed impulses suddenly allowed expression
The punch-line evades the censor

12. How a joke works
Expression of unacceptable impulses, often of sex and aggression
Jokes allow you to enjoy these impulses in a relatively safe manner

13. Practical Jokes Examples
Expression of mild hostility in an enjoyable way

14. Research The art of telling a joke (if Freud is right)
The more tension a person experiences before a punch line, the funnier the joke
Told they would be using a rat
Low tension (just held it)
Mod. tension (took blood; told it was easy)
High tension (took blood; told it was hard)
Ego Id

15. Research
Reached into cage and found

16. Research
“Punch Line”
How funny was that?

17. Research

18. When jokes go bad!
If joke is too crude it is typically not seen as funny.
Why?
Its purpose is too obvious to the audience – ego has time to censure the impulse

19. Nice jokes What about “nice” jokes?
“I don’t believe in astrology, because I’m a Virgo, and we’re hard to convince.”
Silliness in general allows for a brief escape from reality
Demands of reality are resented by the mind
It constantly thwarts release of tension!
Defying reality is mildly pleasant

20. Remembering Jokes Have trouble remember jokes?
Repression occurs afterward

22. Ego Id

23. Parapraxis
Humor Id

24. Parapraxes
When the ego does not do its job properly, elements of the id may slip out and be seen
Forgetting
Slips

25. Ever forget Anything? Birthday? Name?
Forgetting what you were talking about at a party?
Forgetting a dentist appointment or showing up on the wrong day ?
Due dates for papers?
Why?
There are no accidents!

26. Forgetting
You forget to try to avoid thinking about something that may produce anxiety
Every time you forget something there is a reason!
You forget to do something because it reminds you of something else

27. Possible explanations
Birthday?
Name?
Forgot about a date?
Due dates for papers?

28. Possible explanations
Birthday?
Reminds you of age, death. If parent, maybe an issue from the phallic stage
Name?
Forgot about a date?
Due dates for tests or papers?

29. Possible explanations
Birthday?
Reminds you of age, death. If parent, maybe an issue from the phallic stage
Name?
Perhaps you have sexual impulses about this person
Forgot about a date?
Due dates for tests or papers?

30. Possible explanations
Birthday?
Reminds you of age, death. If parent, maybe an issue from the phallic stage
Name?
Perhaps you have sexual impulses about this person
Forgot about a date?
Anxiety about the date / person is too similar to a parent
Due dates for papers?

31. Possible explanations
Birthday?
Reminds you of age, death. If parent, maybe an issue from the phallic stage
Name?
Perhaps you have sexual impulses about this person
Forgot about a date?
Anxiety about the date / person is too similar to a parent
Due dates for papers?
Fear about rejection from parents

32. Parapraxes
When the ego does not do its job properly, elements of the id may slip out and be seen
Forgetting
Slips

33. Freudian Slip

34. Slips
Unintended actions that are caused by the leakage of suppressed impulses
Denial and slips
People don’t do them on purpose
The more they deny them the more truth there is to it!

35. Examples Me and “mother” / “girlfriend” story
I don’t think we’ve been properly seduced, um, introduced”
“What do you think of Fraudian theory?”
“I hope you are well and unhappy”
“Pleased to beat you”
“He can eat and drink what I want”
Using the name of an ex?
Breaking something on accident
“Accidentally” leave something at someone's house?

36. Slips More likely to occur when a person is tired or fatigued
Note: Being tired dos not cause a slip to occur

37. Parapraxes vs. Humor Parapraxes Humor
Impulse leaks out in an uncontrolled manner
Humor
Impulse is crafted to come out in a controlled manner
Parapraxes are a failure of the ego; humor is a success!