Superiority theory claims that the reason why people laugh is because they found out disadvantages or defects of others. However, it sometimes seems distorted when we thinking about laughing at a beggar or make fun of disabled people. People usually will not deride the ones who have genuine difficulties in their life, but the ones who have difficulties temperately. For example, <Running Man>, an entertainment programme in China and Korea, is famous for its weird and funny games and its all-star cast. None of stars can keep their perfect image on this programme. In the game, their is no preparation, no time to think, and even no make-up. All the thing they need is won the game by luck, wise or strengths. So, here is the question, why popular stars so eager to join this programme even if they know they might be embarrassed by it? Could this programme show their advantages? -Yes, if they think they are wiser or stronger than others, but most of people will not think so. Could it help them get better image? -Absolutely not if we are talking about appearances, because most of people cannot make up or wear gorgeous clothes on it. However, is it possible that people join this programme is simply want themselves to look "bad" or be closer to populace?
In my opinion, showing their imperfections will help them gain more popularity. After creating their so many perfect figures on the screen, the marginal utility of being perfect idol decreases; moreover, many fans will start to question their authenticity of being so perfect. Therefore, the most effective and cleverest way to gain more popularity is being more likely to common people, who are imperfection and have less beautiful outfit. In this way, being embarrassed and teased to make people laugh at this point is not that embarrassing, and the outcome of being in a inferior situation is not that hurtful for their position.
In conclusion, superiority theory sometimes will not hurt the targets, but actually benefit them for showing their imperfections.
I think this is an excellent point about superiority theory: it really might involve humanizing or otherwise making the other person more like us. And at the same time, there is something self-promoting about it: celebrities like to appear like ordinary people, not because it makes them seem silly, but rather because seeming silly improves their image paradoxically. The more they are "like us" the more seriously we take them. Politicians use this all the time.
回复删除hhh...Your commend makes me remind of Chinese president, Jinping Xi, and his wife. He always uses some small actions to show his care about his wife, holding her hand when they attended conferences, carrying her bag when she is taking off the plane, just like the ordinary couple in our life. He gave us an figure that he is not only a successful president but also an ordinary husband, which causes people compare themselves or their husbands unconsciously. After finding he is way better than themselves or husbands sit next to them, people will have a conclusion that he is an excellent "ordinary person", and then the admiration became the trust for him. However, in fact, he might be the worst husband because he do not have time to keep his wife company and pretend to have oridianry happy in their marriage although they are not "ordinary" at all.
回复删除That's a great point--the very gestures that supposedly make him a human being also show exactly why he's not going to be a very good husband in actuality--he would have no time at all for his wife aside from these small gestures!
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