Why do people use Sarcasm?

Question

Psychologically, explain sarcasm and why people use it. Is it to keep things on an even kiel, or is it just to piss people off. I use it a lot, and I really want to stop, and I think the only way to stop, is to understand why.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Sarcasm can be either an ironical remark or a taunt. A taunt would be refered to as jeering at someone or trying to provoke someone with scornful remarks and criticism.

I think people who do that, have a tendency to be puffed up and think themselves to be better than others. They are judgemental and proud and arrogant on the outside, but inside they are actually frightened and like jelly. In some cases I would think that behaving in such manner is often transference of their own inadequacies as a means of trying to take the attention off self and getting a kick out of watching others squirm!.

It takes humility to stop. It takes considering others to be more important than self and also biting ones tongue. It takes getting ones own issues sorted out and leaving others alone and not being judgemental of them, but accepting people as they are warts and all! No one can ever be perfect and will never arrive at utmost perfection. If you really are serious about this attitude then choose to yield and do the opposite. Instead of discouraging people and being destructive towards them make and effort to reverse the psychology and be encouraging and constructive towards them. Deal with your issues and also take a look at your hand when you point a finger - there are three pointing right back at you!

Answer 2

it helps people feel smart and witty when they are sarcastic, thats probably why

it can be funny sometimes too

Answer 3

Sometimes its to make a joke in a conversation.
Other times its to resemble an annoyance,
or it can be someones sense of humour, a sarcastic person.

Everyone can stop at serious times.

And some people do it to piss people off, at a lower percentage.

Answer 4

Becuase some people like to feel more intelligent than other people. I used to be really sarcastic, that's why I did it. I thought I was ALL that, ya I don't feel that way anymore.

Answer 5

yeahh i dunno, i guess cuz its funny sometimes? or sometimes people just aren't good in serious situations and it just happens without them thinking. but yeah i don't really know...

Answer 6

Because it's awsome.

Answer 7

Its used by people who pretend they don't care what people think about them, they want people to think they say exactly what they like to anyone. When in fact the opposite is true. They don't have the nerve to say what's really on their mind. so they make a sarcastic remark. Sometimes its done to belittle the other person, but that is also because they want to appear smarter when in fact the reverse is true.

Answer 8

I used to be really sarcastic and cruel to people until I
realized (through counselling) that I was trying to make
myself look big by making other people look smaller.I was so insecure that I had to run everyone else down. That way I got attention even if it was negative.

Answer 9

Personally I use sarcasm only as a means of humour, and only about situations, not to/about people in an effort to piss them off. It's pretty light as far as sarcasm goes.. More irony than anything. But I love ironic humour and so employ it often. If anyone ever gets offended accidently, I apologise and assure them that it wasn't my intention.

Sarcasm is generally defined as a caustic version of irony (that being the opposite of what is expected). It's not really a psycological tick in itself, just a spin-off of a literary device, a specific way of speaking. Different people use it for different reasons. Someone could say something terribly sarcastic (the rude kind) just because the ironic humour was priceless, and feel the need to apologise afterwards. Someone else could be sarcastic and flippant to everyone they spoke to, perhaps because they were in a very bad mood or didn't think much of the people they were talking to or didn't respect them, and so had no problem being rude to them. Also, it is possible to just get in the habit of speaking a certain way. I guess the main factor behind using sarcasm, humourously or rudely, is that you must not feel compelled to always be straightforward, since it's a round-a-bout way of speaking.

I'd suggest you look at why you, specifically, use it. Are you just joking? Are you just not thinking about other's feelings and how they may interpret what you said? Is it just a habit? Once you find out why, you can figure out how to change it.

Answer 10

Sarcasm is designed to express negative things about people/activities, etc., but disguised to be "acceptable". A person can rarely "call" anyone on use of sarcasm, as they'll pass it off as your being overly sensitive. You might try writing a journal and figure out WHAT and WHO you're really angry with! Maybe as a kid you were punished for making fun of others. (Often kids do that and if parents don't handle it correctly, they simply drive the child's anger underground.) Or, it can be that one of your parents were sarcastic and of course, you'd pick it up, too. Kudos to you for recognizing and wanting to improve!!! Few sarcastic people EVER acknowledge that there is anything wrong or hurtful about their comments!!! Good Luck!!!