I have some extensive knowledge in this field from experience, so I'll tell you from my experiences why I think people tease each other. There are several reasons why people tease each other:
1.) Power - When go past the point of no return in teasing by hurting somebody's feelings, deep down it makes you feel like you have power over that person. It becomes an addiction after awhile, and eventually the teasing will never end unless something horrible happens to the other person, or something drastic makes the person change their ways. It's one of the worst reasons why people tease, the major reason why people tease, and it also shows your true nature. It can literally show how petty you can be.
2.) Distraction - Some people tease other people just to get the negative attention off of them. This usually means going to the next level, and is usually done in small groups so others can join in. It some aspect is can be a power trip, but it's mostly just to divert the negative attention from the teasing of others away from you, and on to someone else.
3.) Ignorance (a.k.a. Insecurity) - This reason is usually done when there is somebody different from you in a group. You are inexperienced and insecure on how to handle a person that may be different physically or mentally than you, so you tease out of ignorance. It some if not most cases this form moves up to power due to the sheer fact that it makes you look like you're better than the other person, when in reality it only exposes your true intelligence.
4.) Cruelty (a.k.a. Revenge) - This form of teasing once again reverts to power. It is usually done when somebody has hurt you in such a way, that emotionally you feel it is necessary to gain vengeance on those who have hurt you. This type of teasing much like any type of teasing can and will get out of hand, and can eventually swallow a person whole by destroying their lives.
5.) Love (a.k.a. joking) - This is the type of teasing that most people do in friendships and relationships. The main purpose of this type of teasing is just to lighten the mood between you and your loved one. However, if this type of teasing is done in an unnecessary manner, it could blow up in your face. You can hit a nerve you didn't mean to, and the teasing will become out of control. This usually means that the main motive will revert back to cruelty. When this happens, the relationship is usually lost.
There are many other types of teasing, but those are the main five that we as humans go with. While each one can be different, most of them all revert back to the same two reasons: insecurity and power. We tease because it makes us feel good. It makes us as humans feel that we have the power to ruin other peoples' lives by just a choice selection of words. Friendly teasing is normally done in small doses, and can be healthy for a relationship. However, it should also me monitored closely. One false move and the friendly teasing can spiral out of control.
Teasing can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how it is used. It is up to the person on how to use it. Use it wisely, and it shows that you just like to joke around, keep things lively. Use it poorly, and your true intentions show through. The form of teasing is out of a gain for power and insecurity. It makes you look like you have the upper hand in every situation. It also proves that you're a jackass, and aren't worth the time of day for a friendship/relationship. Of course we're all prone and in some cases guilty of it. We're only human after all. The question is would you stoop that low in harming another person just to make yourself feel better?
Doc:ramen:
