Forbidden impulses expressed as jokes are effective at dodging the ego and superego because they ________ the forbidden impulse.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Jokes often use humor to disguise or mask the underlying message or impulse. By presenting the impulse in a humorous or lighthearted way, it can bypass the defenses of the ego and superego that would normally reject or suppress it. Displacement and projection involve redirecting the impulse onto something or someone else, which may not be as effective in expressing the forbidden impulse. Reduction involves minimizing the intensity of the impulse, which also may not be as effective in expressing it fully.

Forbidden Impulses Expressed as Jokes Are Effective at Dodging the Ego