This post is primarily aimed at my Biological Psychology students. Unfortunately, quarter system being what it is, we ran out of time before our midterm, and couldn’t look at the famous Rusty the Narcoleptic Dog video. If you missed it at the exam, here is the link.
Not being an expert on humor, I find it interesting that this video elicits both “awwwww” and laughter in most students, almost simultaneously….Hypotheses, anyone?
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11 Comments
genevieve · May 27, 2007 at 10:50 pm
You talked in class about how researchers found that we laugh when something makes us feel superior. The video of Rusty brings out laughter in some because he looks so foolish, and maybe it makes us feel less foolish by comparison. The people who “aww” might be those who empathize more with this poor dog’s disorder, but even those who did “aww” laughed as well.
Laura Freberg · May 28, 2007 at 10:18 am
Albert Rapp (1948) in his article, “The Dawn of Humor,” says that “there was a time before humor or wit or ridicule existed. The laughter that there was in that savage day was: the laugh of triumph in the primitive all-out duel in the forests….Laughter is always of victory.”
Rapp says that “Even the most benevolent humor can be traced to ridicule, to perception of superiority, to crude deriding of physical defects.” However, he is not concerned about these rather brutal origins of humor. Instead, he is encouraged by the human ability to “take a cruel barbarian gesture and make it into what it is…an accepted token of friendship and affection….”
Rapp considers the ability to laugh at yourself among the most advanced achievements of people.
So I think it’s safe to say that although we are laughing in superiority to Rusty, we do so with sympathy and affection.
apanchal · June 4, 2007 at 12:14 am
I remember when you the video to us in class after our midterm and I couldn’t help but laugh. I had never since anything like it. I guess I was naive to the fact that it could happen to dogs as well!
noburns · June 4, 2007 at 9:32 pm
I’ve seen another video of a narcoleptic dog in my high school psychology class. Is it common in dogs or other animals, or at least as common as it is in humans? Could we study dog brains like the studies of rats you talk about in class?
binelson · June 5, 2007 at 11:52 am
From personal experience, it seems that alot of people laugh out of surprise; when something unexpected happens or something expected does not happen. It’s surprising that a dog would just collapse for no reason.
What did the farmer say when he lost his tractor?
– Where’s my tactor?
Though, I still think the superiority principle definately pulls more weight.
AMonique · June 5, 2007 at 8:18 pm
That video was very funny. I Love dogs, I have two of my own, one full breed sharpee and one half lab and sharpee. All I could do is think of Rico, he’s the full breed sharpee. He does not have narcoleptsy, but he is always sleeping and snoring, and he throws him self down like Rusty did, he’s so cute, you have to see my Rico w/all his wrinkles. Well I would have to say that in this clip that was funny, but to imagine what a human being has to deal with, that must be very hard.
betsy gray · June 5, 2007 at 10:35 pm
I found another hilarious video about “Skeeter” the narcoleptic dog. Not only does Skeeter fall into a deep sleep like Rusty when he gets excited, but throughout the clip he is fighting to stay awake!
danieceloomis · June 5, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Although this video is very funny and people joke about narcolepsy as a funny disease, i have realized that it definitely is not. After watching a documentary on narcolepsy in humans, I realized that it is a harmful disease and can be very dangerous. One young girl had it so severe that she had to wear protective body gear, since she would spontaneously fall over into REM sleep so often. Her activities were limited and her family spent most of their time and resources making sure she was safe. I could never imagine trying to live a normal life with this disease, especially with the demanding schedules and requirements of college students. It seems like it would be nearly impossible.
fionaphillips · June 7, 2007 at 10:48 pm
To continue Daniece’s comment, I wonder how many severe cases of narcolepsy in humans have led to an avoidant personality disorder? I assume it would be very difficult to go through your daily life knowing another episode could happen at any moment.
lex · June 8, 2007 at 12:27 pm
I find it very interesting that animals can have this as well. I know that humans are closer to animals than most people would like to admit, but something like this just seems so human. And as Daniece said, it is serious, but when it’s in a dog, it’s a bit more humerous. I do laugh when I watch this video.
giana · June 9, 2007 at 9:05 pm
I have to admit I laugh too. It’s “schadenfreude”: happiness at the misfortune of others. We feel bad when we laugh, but we can’t help it; I think it’s an odd mixture between superiority and empathy. I’ve never seen narcolepsy for real before this video, and I never really thought of it as being so sudden from running to passed out.
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