The Purpose of Pranking
Serah Mann
Do you live in fear on April 1? Scrutinizing other’s actions to see if they are trying to pull one over you? If so, you are not alone. This is a perfectly justified phobia known as sugrophobia, or the fear of being duped. The real question here, is, why do people love pranking so much, and why is there a holiday devoted to it?
Serah Mann
Do you live in fear on April 1? Scrutinizing other’s actions to see if they are trying to pull one over you? If so, you are not alone. This is a perfectly justified phobia known as sugrophobia, or the fear of being duped. The real question here, is, why do people love pranking so much, and why is there a holiday devoted to it?
![Picture](/uploads/3/9/5/1/39517343/editor/find-the-toenail.jpg?1486269890)
People have been playing pranks for centuries. Anthropologists have found that pranks and practical jokes are commonly an attempt to bring someone into a group. This is an important part of rituals all around the world.
The earliest pranks may date back to the silly spring festivals of the Romans or the practical jokers of the Middle Ages.
More often than not, the pranks we pull on our friends and colleagues are all in good fun and not intended to harm anyone physically or emotionally. In fact, a “good prank” can serve as a reminder that we are all human, as long as it doesn’t go too far in embarrassing or humiliating the person on the other end.
The earliest pranks may date back to the silly spring festivals of the Romans or the practical jokers of the Middle Ages.
More often than not, the pranks we pull on our friends and colleagues are all in good fun and not intended to harm anyone physically or emotionally. In fact, a “good prank” can serve as a reminder that we are all human, as long as it doesn’t go too far in embarrassing or humiliating the person on the other end.
During the 1960s, activist and prankster Abbie Hoffman divided practical jokes into two distinct categories:
- The Bad Prank
- Vindictive skewering – hazing, overall humiliation
- Neutral tricks – physical punch lines such as wrapping the toilet bowl with plastic wrap
- The Good Prank
- Satirizes, in a funny way, human fears or failings
- Light-hearted and humorous
So, if you decide that it is necessary to pull pranks on any of your friends or colleagues this year, make sure that you take into account the emotional impact of any prank you plan on doing. Keep your pranks light and playful to ensure that both parties can reap the positive effects of pranking!