The psychologist talked about ways to distinguish a joke from passive aggression.

Humor can lighten the atmosphere and make communication easier, but not only the topic of the joke is important, but also how it is perceived by the interlocutor. On April 1, Alexandra Grazhdanov, a psychologist in the AST approach (acceptance and responsibility therapy) and a member of the AKPN, told Izvestia how to correctly understand where humor ends and boundary violation begins.

As the expert noted, humor plays an important role in communication, helping to defuse tension and openly talk about difficult topics. However, it is important to remember that the boundaries of humor exist, and if a joke causes an unpleasant aftertaste or a feeling of awkwardness, this may be a sign that it has affected the sensitive area of the interlocutor.

"With healthy interaction, both sides feel safe. That is, a joke is a joke for both sides. And if a joke leaves an unpleasant aftertaste or a feeling of awkwardness that something is going wrong, then this is a signal that she has touched some sensitive area," the psychologist explained.

It is especially important to consider the reaction of the second person. If he expresses dissatisfaction, for example, asks to stop joking or says that he is uncomfortable, and in response he hears phrases like "you're overreacting," it's about violating personal boundaries. In such cases, humor can become a disguise for passive aggression, where a person criticizes or exerts pressure.

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Some topics, such as pregnancy, parenthood, or personal experiences, may be particularly vulnerable to humor. These questions are often related to personal experiences and social anxiety, and jokes about such topics can increase feelings of shame or anxiety.

"It's important to understand that, of course, we don't always know what's behind someone else's story. And what may be a neutral joke for us may turn out to be a painful reminder for another," the expert added.

The psychologist also stressed that if a person feels uncomfortable with a joke on a sensitive topic, they have the right to react.

"Sensitivity is not about weakness, but about an indicator of significance. If something hurts you, then it's more of an excuse to listen to yourself and think about what's bothering me here at all, what's so important to me here," the psychologist concluded.

Ekaterina Demyanovskaya, an expert doctor at the Hemotest laboratory, a neurologist, said that laughter can be a manifestation of pathological processes in the brain or changes in the psyche: from a protective reaction to severe stress to symptoms of serious diseases. According to the expert, laughter as an inappropriate reaction can occur in various conditions, from organic brain damage to mental disorders.

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