Verbal Abuse Disguised as Jokes: When The Joke Isn't Funny

Many times verbal abuse is passed off as jokes, but the whole point of indulging in that kind of behavior is to humiliate and denigrate another person. Most people fail to see and understand this, but verbal abuse of this kind can have major repercussions on a person’s, especially an emotionally vulnerable person’s psyche.

Verbal abuse can begin as small digs disguised as jokes.

Your boyfriend or husband teases, ridicules and humiliates you with sarcastic remarks about your appearance, personality, abilities, and values. If you tell him, “I don’t think that’s funny,” or you ask him to stop “poking fun at you” he may become defensive, irritated or angry.

He tells you, “You’re too sensitive” or “You can’t take a joke.” His blaming statements are convincing, causing you to question your ability to reason. You wonder if you are over-reacting and you doubt your perception of his abuse.

His denial of your experience of his abuse adds another layer to his abuse.

He makes comments about you in front of friends that mock or belittle you.

He conceals his acrimony with a smug grin and laughter. His public ridicule is unexpected, it throws you off balance and it embarrasses and humiliates you. Your friends may laugh at his wisecracks but your heartfelt the jab and your brain struggles to interpret the true meaning of his put-down. If you show shock or displeasure he may patronize you with a hug and tell you he was only “kidding.” He maintains his good-guy façade and your friends wonder why you are overly emotional about a mindless joke.

Related: The Signs of Verbal Abuse

“It takes a quick mind to come up with ways of disparaging the partner either crassly or with wit and style. This kind of abuse is not done in jest. It cuts to the quick, touches the most sensitive areas, and leaves the abuser with a look of triumph. This abuse never seems funny because it isn’t funny.” — Patricia Evans, The Verbally Abusive Relationship

Over time his ridicule and put-downs can severely damage your self-esteem, sense of self and integrity.

I should have paid attention to the first time Dr. Dirtbag ridiculed me about my weight. We were eating dinner in front of the TV and out-of-the-clear-blue-yonder, he said, “Ya know, the reason fat people are fat is they don’t know when to stop eating. Your plate is so clean when you get through eating I don’t even have to wash it.”

I froze mid-bite. He could see the hurt in my eyes. Instead of apologizing, he feigned innocence, saying, “Oh, did I say something wrong?” He swore he didn’t mean it, but he never apologized. He instead blamed me, saying “Geez, I was just trying to help. You told me you wanted to lose five pounds. I can’t say anything to you. I’ll just keep my mouth shut.”

His sole purpose was to shock and wound me with his spiteful put-down.

Examples of verbal abuse disguised as jokes:

She can’t remember anything; she has sticky notes everywhere.

She’s so funny; she burns everything she cooks.

She can’t find her way to the grocery store without a GPS.

Having a bad hair day?

You act just like your mother.

You would forget your name if it weren’t on your driver’s license.

He is saying, I can say whatever I want to say about you because I am “just” being funny.

Understand, the sole purpose of his hostile, disparaging humor is to victimize, belittle, and insult you. If you don’t react to his ridicule, he will not be able to control, dominate, and power over you.