Tasya Leony Poting is a student in the Master of Psychology Science program at Soegijapranata Catholic University. Through her writing, she addresses social psychology issues, particularly stereotypes, prejudice, and intergroup relations in multicultural societies.
JurnalPost.com - In our daily lives, have we ever heard someone being laughed at because of their accent, regional origin, or identity related to their ethnicity? Such jokes might be considered normal, and often even serve as a way to break the ice. However, when the target of the laughter shows discomfort, the response that often follows is, "Don't be so sensitive, we're just joking."The issue is not merely whether a joke is funny or offensive, but why certain traits are attributed to a specific ethnic group. Why are the same depictions repeated until they seem to become a truth?
In a multicultural society like Indonesia, humor can be a means to build familiarity with others. However, humor can also carry stereotypes about certain groups. When an ethnic group is repeatedly depicted as having negative traits, such as being rude, emotional, and so on, such jokes are no longer just jokes.
Within them lies a judgment of a specific group that can influence how others view individuals who are members of that group. The problem does not lie in the humor itself, but in the stereotypes conveyed and how that humor treats the individuals who are its targets.
When Stereotypes Become the Subject of Laughter
In social psychology, a stereotype is defined as a characteristic perceived to be associated with a specific group or category of individuals (Schneider, 2004).
In the context of ethnic-related humor, stereotypes emerge when certain characteristics are associated with members of a specific tribe. For example, someone is considered rude and emotional simply because they come from a certain region. Such judgments are not based on getting to know the individual themselves, but on generalizations about their group.
Stereotypes are different from prejudice and discrimination. Stereotypes relate to beliefs about group characteristics, while prejudice refers to evaluations or attitudes toward other individuals based on their group membership. Meanwhile, discrimination refers to actions or treatment that disadvantage individuals because of their group identity. These three things can be interrelated, but they are not identical and do not always appear in sequence.
In ethnic humor, stereotypes can become the basis for jokes when certain traits are attached to members of an ethnic group as if they all possess the same characteristics.
Research by Surahmat, Wijana, and Sulistyowati (2024) analyzed 270 examples of ethnic humor in Indonesia through books, websites, and social media. The results showed that ethnic humor can represent minority ethnic groups negatively and reinforce social images that place certain groups in a lower position.
These findings indicate that humor is not always just entertainment, but can also carry stereotypes that influence how certain groups are depicted in society.
How Can Humor Be Related to Prejudice?
Ford and Ferguson (2004), through prejudiced norm theory, explain how humor that disparages a group can provide cues regarding social norms.
When jokes that disparage a group are accepted as normal, others who hear them may get the impression that expressions disparaging that group are tolerable.
Thus, humor does not only play a role in conveying the content of a joke, but can also send a specific message regarding behavior considered acceptable in a social environment.
Experimental research by Ford et al. (2014) showed that humor disparaging social groups can influence tolerance toward discrimination under certain conditions, particularly in individuals who previously held higher levels of prejudice.
These findings show that humor is not always neutral in intergroup relations because it can give the impression that expressions disparaging certain groups are socially acceptable.
These findings also help explain why the phrase "just joking" does not automatically eliminate the problems contained in the jokes being told.
This does not mean that every joke related to ethnicity necessarily causes prejudice. The problem arises when humor repeatedly uses negative generalizations and makes them feel normal to accept without question.
Three Steps to Reduce Prejudice in Daily Jokes
Reducing prejudice is not enough by just asking others to respect differences. We also need to understand how to deal with stereotypes when they appear in daily interactions.
1. Recognizing Stereotypes Behind Jokes
When hearing jokes about a certain ethnic group, we can learn to pause and pay attention to the message actually being conveyed.
Is the joke just telling a funny experience or is it actually depicting all members of the group as if they have the same traits?
For example, when someone is considered stubborn, rude, or emotional just because of their ethnic background, the joke contains a stereotype that can be continuously reinforced through repetition.
We do not have to respond immediately with anger. Sometimes, asking a simple question like, "Is it true that everyone from that group has the same traits?" is enough to invite others to think again.
In this way, we can criticize the generalizations that arise without having to embarrass the person who delivered them.
2. Considering the Impact of Jokes on Others
A joke might sound normal to the person saying it, but it is not necessarily felt the same way by the person who is the target.
Before joining in the laughter or passing on a joke, we should imagine how it would feel if our own identity were constantly made the subject of jokes.
Would we still find it funny if we had to hear the same thing repeatedly?
This question helps us reflect and understand that the impact of humor is not only influenced by the intent of the person joking, but also by the experience of the person hearing it.
Research by Pettigrew and Tropp (2008) shows that empathy and the ability to take the perspective of others are mechanisms that can help reduce intergroup prejudice.
By learning to understand the viewpoints of others, we can be wiser in determining which jokes are appropriate to tell.
3. Building Positive Interactions with Different Groups
Prejudice tends to persist more easily when we only know a group through other people's stories, information on social media, or jokes that are repeated over and over.
Conversely, direct interaction can help us get to know people from different groups as individuals, not just as part of a certain group.
This can be done through collaboration in various activities, discussions, or other social activities with people who have different backgrounds.
A meta-analysis by Pettigrew and Tropp (2006) showed that intergroup contact is associated with reduced prejudice.
Through positive interaction, we have the opportunity to recognize the diversity of a person's character, experiences, and perspectives. Thus, judgments about individuals are no longer based solely on stereotypes about their group.
Keep Joking, Without Being Derogatory
Ultimately, humor or jokes do not have to be eliminated from daily life just so we can avoid prejudice.
We can still laugh, joke with each other, and enjoy differences without making ethnic identity a reason to belittle others.
The thing to pay attention to is the message carried by the joke and how that joke can influence the way we view other groups.
Change can start from simple things, namely being more critical of the stereotypes we hear, considering the feelings of the person who is the target, and being willing to get to know others without being fixated on existing assumptions.
When jokes continue to repeat the same image of a certain group, there is a risk that we begin to view that image as a truth.
Conversely, when we dare to question stereotypes, we help open space for more equal and mutually respectful intergroup relations in a multicultural society.
Therefore, before laughing or passing on a certain joke, we should ask ourselves, "Can this joke make us laugh together or is it actually laughing at someone else?"
That simple question can be the beginning of building wiser humor and a more inclusive multicultural life.
Bibliography
Ford, T. E., & Ferguson, M. A. (2004). Social consequences of disparagement humor: A prejudice norm theory. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 8(1), 79–94. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327957PSPR0801_4
Ford, T. E., Woodzicka, J. A., Triplett, S. R., Kochersberger, A. O., & Holden, C. J. (2014). Not all groups are equal: Differential vulnerability of social groups to the prejudice-releasing effects of disparagement humor. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 17(2), 178–199. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430213502558
Pettigrew, T. F., & Tropp, L. R. (2006). A meta-analytic test of intergroup contact theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90(5), 751–783. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.90.5.751
Pettigrew, T. F., & Tropp, L. R. (2008). How does intergroup contact reduce prejudice? Meta-analytic tests of three mediators. European Journal of Social Psychology, 38(6), 922–934. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.504
Schneider, D. J. (2004). The psychology of stereotyping. Guilford Press.
Surahmat, S., Wijana, I. D. P., & Sulistyowati, S. (2024). Marginalization of minority ethnicities in ethnic humor discourse in Indonesia: A critical discourse analysis. Jurnal Arbitrer, 11(3), 384–398. https://doi.org/10.25077/ar.11.3.384-398.2024
Comments 0
Write a Comment Share your response