The Self-deprecating Humor of George W. Bush : Its Functions and Effects

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This paper attempts to study the functions and effects of humor by clarifying the processes through which we attain the effects. Since the time of the Greek philosophers, various functions of humor have been presented. The functions presented so far are diverse and some seem to have contrary or contradicting effects. In this paper we will study examples of humor expressed by George W. Bush, with special focus on self-deprecating humor, in an attempt to find clear evidence of the functions and effects of this type. We will attempt to analyze the processes of a humor act in the same way as Austin (1962) analyzed a speech act, or an action performed by an utterance. The analysis reveals that the function of humor is to raise laughter and the effect of humor is to moderate negative aspects of life, such as anger, aggressiveness, fear, tension, weariness and depression, while providing positive effects such as cheering up the spirits and achieving appreciation, sympathy and even love. These effects of humor make unsociable actions, such as aggressive verbal attacks or sexual talk, socially acceptable by modifying the malignant, harmful or unpleasant elements of these actions.
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