Teasing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Teasing is a word with many meanings. In human interactions, teasing comes in two major forms, playful and hurtful. In mild cases, and especially when it is reciprocal, teasing can be viewed as playful and friendly. However, teasing is often unwelcome and then it takes the form of harassment. In extreme cases, teasing may escalate to actual violence, and may even result in abuse, potentially meeting the legal definition of child abuse.
Children are commonly teased on such matters as their appearance, weight, behavior, abilities, and clothing.[1] This kind of teasing is often hurtful, even when the teaser believes he or she is being playful. One may also tease an animal. Some animals, such as dogs and cats, may recognize this as play, but as in humans, teasing can become hurtful and take the form of bullying and abuse.
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[edit] The nature of teasing
The most common kind of teasing is verbal bullying or taunting. This behavior is intended to distract, irritate, or annoy the recipient. Because it is hurtful, it is different from playful joking and is generally accompanied by some degree of social rejection.
One form of teasing is to pretend to give something which the other desires, or giving it very slowly. This is usually done by arousing curiosity or desire and may not actually involve the intent to satisfy or disclose. This form of teasing could be called "tantalizing", after the story of Tantalus. It is generally playful among adults. Among children it can be hurtful, such as when one child acquires a possession of another and will not return it.
Whether teasing is playful or hurtful is largely determined by the motive of the teaser. If the intent is to harm, then the teasing is hurtful. A difference in power between people may also make the behavior hurtful rather than playful. Ultimately though, if someone perceives him or herself as the victim of teasing, and experiences the teasing as unpleasant, then it is considered hurtful.
[edit] Other usage
"To tease", or to "be a tease" in a sexual sense can mean to pleasure by dress, posture, language and/or other means of flirting to cause another person to become sexually aroused, without any intent to proceed further — usually to the frustration of the person teased. However, such behavior may sometimes be an intended prelude to a more serious engagement, an ambiguity that may lead to uncomfortable situations. In a more physical sense, it can also refer to sexual stimulation. It is a playful activity of arousing pleasure from another through physical contact in order to win favor.
In a very different context, hair can be "teased," "ratted," or more or more correctly, "backcombed." As the name suggests, backcombing involves combing the hair backwards from end to root to intentionally tangle the strands to create volume.
[edit] Jam bands
Furthermore, jam bands such as Phish are known to sometimes quote a song other than the one on which they are jamming — calling it "teasing". Frontman Trey Anastasio has been known to quote songs as diverse as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and the theme song to The Simpsons.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Kowalski, R. (2000). I was only kidding:Victim and perpetrators' perceptions of teasing. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26, 231-241.
