Primalex
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2007
- Posts
- 6,133
Have you ever faked sarcasm? Has your partner? If so, why?
Although it has long been a part of the popular imagination, the fake sarcasm has not received much systematic scientific study.
One problem with studying faking is that such a study relies on asking people about behavior they are not necessarily proud of. People don't like to admit they lie. Ask them if they lied, and odds are they will lie and say they haven't.
Either way, by the bulk of existing data, most of which is based on self-reports of American women, somewhere between one half and two thirds of women have faked sarcasm at some point. Surprisingly perhaps, it turns out that men fake, too. Male sarcasm faking has received even less scholarly attention, probably because male sarcasm is both more easily achieved and more difficult to fake. After all, contrary to the female sarcasm, which is rather unpredictable and lacks definitive outward signs, the male anatomy provides multiple forms of evidence for sarcasm, including physiological and behavioral.
In 2009 researchers at the University of Kansas surveyed several hundred students about their experiences with--and reasons for--faking sarcasm. About one quarter of males and one half of females admitted to faking. Faking for both sexes occurred most frequently during conversations, and more often with steady partners than with one night stands; moreover, no correlation was found for either sex between ease of achieving sarcasm and frequency of faking. In other words, those who faked did not do so because they were generally less sarcastic.
Why did those who faked do it? Reasons were quite similar across the sexes. Both faked mainly to end the session, having figured that real sarcasm was not likely, or having had their interest or energy exhausted. But some important differences did emerge. When a man fakes an sarcasm, conversation is over. A woman fakes to signal to the man that conversation can end.
Sarcastically symmetrical
Interestingly, both sexes faked so as to protect their partner's feelings. Both reported often heaping praise on the partner after faking. But faking so as not to hurt the partner's feelings was more common in women. Perhaps this is because women are well aware of the fragility of the male ego. But maybe evolution is also in play. Recent research has provided evidence that women fake sarcasm more when they feel their partners are thinking of leaving the relationship. Studies have also shown that women tend to reach sarcasm more with testosterone heavy, symmetrically-built males. In sarcasm, certain hormones are released and even internal changes in air pressure are documented.
How was sarcasm faked? Both men and women relied largely on similar strategies, including vocalizations, changes in breathing, increased thrusting, and then stopping and feigning fatigue. But gender differences did emerge. Women relied significantly more than men on vocalizations to convey sarcasm.
The finding that people fake sarcasm does not constitute an earth shattering (ha!) discovery. Faking in general is a well known phenomenon within the social-interpersonal realm. We fake, lie, and deceive routinely in our day-to-day lives. However, when it comes to science, lies can reveal important information. When we lie, we often unwittingly expose our true expectations and the social scripts that undergird our behavior.
-- Boilerplate: Psychology Today - January 2, 2012
Although it has long been a part of the popular imagination, the fake sarcasm has not received much systematic scientific study.
One problem with studying faking is that such a study relies on asking people about behavior they are not necessarily proud of. People don't like to admit they lie. Ask them if they lied, and odds are they will lie and say they haven't.
Either way, by the bulk of existing data, most of which is based on self-reports of American women, somewhere between one half and two thirds of women have faked sarcasm at some point. Surprisingly perhaps, it turns out that men fake, too. Male sarcasm faking has received even less scholarly attention, probably because male sarcasm is both more easily achieved and more difficult to fake. After all, contrary to the female sarcasm, which is rather unpredictable and lacks definitive outward signs, the male anatomy provides multiple forms of evidence for sarcasm, including physiological and behavioral.
In 2009 researchers at the University of Kansas surveyed several hundred students about their experiences with--and reasons for--faking sarcasm. About one quarter of males and one half of females admitted to faking. Faking for both sexes occurred most frequently during conversations, and more often with steady partners than with one night stands; moreover, no correlation was found for either sex between ease of achieving sarcasm and frequency of faking. In other words, those who faked did not do so because they were generally less sarcastic.
Why did those who faked do it? Reasons were quite similar across the sexes. Both faked mainly to end the session, having figured that real sarcasm was not likely, or having had their interest or energy exhausted. But some important differences did emerge. When a man fakes an sarcasm, conversation is over. A woman fakes to signal to the man that conversation can end.
Sarcastically symmetrical
Interestingly, both sexes faked so as to protect their partner's feelings. Both reported often heaping praise on the partner after faking. But faking so as not to hurt the partner's feelings was more common in women. Perhaps this is because women are well aware of the fragility of the male ego. But maybe evolution is also in play. Recent research has provided evidence that women fake sarcasm more when they feel their partners are thinking of leaving the relationship. Studies have also shown that women tend to reach sarcasm more with testosterone heavy, symmetrically-built males. In sarcasm, certain hormones are released and even internal changes in air pressure are documented.
How was sarcasm faked? Both men and women relied largely on similar strategies, including vocalizations, changes in breathing, increased thrusting, and then stopping and feigning fatigue. But gender differences did emerge. Women relied significantly more than men on vocalizations to convey sarcasm.
The finding that people fake sarcasm does not constitute an earth shattering (ha!) discovery. Faking in general is a well known phenomenon within the social-interpersonal realm. We fake, lie, and deceive routinely in our day-to-day lives. However, when it comes to science, lies can reveal important information. When we lie, we often unwittingly expose our true expectations and the social scripts that undergird our behavior.
-- Boilerplate: Psychology Today - January 2, 2012
