You’ve Got to Laugh

Abstract

Everyone agreed that Jack, the company’s VP Information Systems, was a very funny guy. He had an unusual way with humor; self-deprecating, he knew how to get laughs out of people and to help them see the lighter side of things. But there was also a darker side to his humor, especially when it was directed at others. Some laughed when he joked about others’ imperfections, but found his words left them with a bitter aftertaste. His co-workers began to feel unsure about the way Jack used humor. He gave off conflicting signals. Was he using humor as a defense against his own insecurities? Was his self-deprecation covering up real fear and pain? Was his teasing of others a mask for his underlying hostility? Or was making others the butt of his jokes a way of deflecting attention from himself and avoiding getting too close to them?