Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious (Paperback)

by Sigmund Freud (Author), James Strachey (Author), Peter Gay (Author) "Let us follow up a lead presented to us by chance and consider the first example of a joke that we came across in the..." (more)
Key Phrases: inhibitory cathexis, displacement joke, psychical expenditure, The Interpretation of Dreams, Golden Calf, Mark Twain (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Freud argues that the "joke-work" is intimately related to the "dream-work" which he had analyzed in detail in his Interpretation of Dreams, and that jokes (like all forms of humor) attest to the fundamental orderliness of the human mind. While in this book Freud tells some good stories with his customary verve and economy, its point is wholly serious.

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co.; 1st edition (September 17, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393001458
• ISBN-13: 978-0393001457
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,812 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #2 in	Books > Entertainment > Humor > Theories of Humor
  #7 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Behavioral Sciences > Behavioral Psychology
  #22 in	Books > Entertainment > Humor > Self-Help & Psychology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To make a Freudian slip on a banana peel , January 11, 2005

By	Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Freud did not see jokes as minor nonsense and insignificance. He saw them as deeper messages delivered to us from our unconscious. He saw them as telling the secrets about ourselves to ourselves and the world that we do not necessarily want to tell. He saw them as acts of aggression and as acts of self- defense. In fact Freud is one of the few theorists of jokes and laughter that the world has had. In my opinion while Freud's understanding of jokes is not exhaustive and all- comprehensive it does illuminate much about a certain kind of humor. And it does teach us something about ourselves which we had not really noticed before Freud taught it to us. Freud himself is of course a source of endless jokes today , but it is not wrong to say that at least some of these jokes should be about his great genius and ability to see and say where others before him did not.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Freud loosens up a little, October 31, 2000

By	paul cross (Chicago, Il) - See all my reviews

The logic of Freud can sometimes be overbearing when he is dealing with the makings of a joke. However, he does at times seem to drop his guard, speak in easy to understand terms, and give information that can be understood. If anyone is pursuing comedy in any form, this book would be helpful, and will help you compare your analyzation of what you do with someone who knew very well how the human mind worked. I've applied several of his concepts on stage and have found them successful.