All of us, at some point, find ourselves in a situation where the removal of value softens any bad vibes. The idea is to rescue the mood by the opposite way it is created, valuing or not valuing something or someone. Therefore, this is the purpose of irony which we will unravel in the next lines and also bring some examples.

What is irony?

Irony is the act of invoking words or situations that carry a meaning contrary to that which it naturally carries In general, it is used in situations to rescue humor or, in an ironic way, also to do the opposite.

As mentioned above, we value something with the intention of devaluing and diminishing it. This can be seen in the gesture and even in the voice, since it usually takes on a different tone than usual.

Even if it is directed at only one person, being ironic also hits some situation or event In this case, we use humor to laugh at something that has happened to us or has happened to others. Given the way some events are constructed, we find their composition curious and make a humorous reference to it.

Why are people ironic?

We can observe that irony is used to make fun of someone or some situation. The idea is to enhance what actually happened by mentioning its contrary nature, in order to remind us of reality. Although it is easily created by intelligent people, it can denounce a character problem, depending on the situation.

Also, we try to denounce someone's faults when we are being ironic When a close person, whether at home or at work, makes a mistake, we raise our criticism by censuring them. The idea is that they remember their failure by seeing the opposite way around so that they don't make the mistake again.

Although the common way is to praise in order to belittle, many people do the opposite in order to highlight the importance of an object. This is evident in more concrete friendships, when one is sad and the other emphasizes everything good in that episode.

Types of irony

Even if it is a very direct object in its objective, there are three basic types of irony The use of each depends directly on the situation in which one is involved. Some are controlled by us while others happen naturally, they are:

Oral

This is the most direct, happening when someone says something with the pretense of saying something else. In this way they show themselves to have more control over the effect they want to cause with this one. This is where the intention becomes clear, whether they just want to laugh at something or make a criticism.

Dramatic

It is a resource that is often used in theater or in other productions for the public. This is because the audience knows the meaning of something and understands it, but the characters in question do not .

Situation

Finally, there is the difference between the intention of something and the result of it. Not always what we planned ends up working out. Unusually, some situations can happen contrary to what we wanted.

Irony vs. sarcasm

Curiously, many people end up confusing irony with sarcasm, but there is a difference. Let's see below:

• Irony - Even though it can be used to criticize, it does not affect anyone deeply.
• Sacrasm - Sarcasm, on the other hand, is built for that purpose. Sarcasm is a serious and insulting way of hitting someone inconveniently. The idea here is to humiliate and mock something or someone in the most boring way you can.

Just as irony is more easily constructed by those who are intelligent, this one follows the same pattern. However, it does not belong to a person with good balance and emotional intelligence. Basically, sarcastics do not have that much empathy.

Examples

To get a better grasp of the meaning of irony, look at these sentences. Notice the contradictory composition of the situations included in them, starting with:

Run as fast as a slug

As everyone knows, the slug is one of the slowest animals in nature, so when you make this comparison, you end up ironizing someone's slowness.

I loved the dry and watery cake

It is impossible for a cake in this condition to give anyone any sense of pleasure, so when we say that we love such a cake, we build a criticism with good humor.

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The way you ignore me, I don't know, it's different

One of the most common memes on the internet is a clear example of irony. By valuing someone's indifference by saying how unique it is, we affirm how much we don't like it, although the person does.

Joy of working hard and earning little

Naturally, a person wants to be adequately compensated for the effort he puts into his work. However, the reality does not match in most cases. When someone utters this phrase, he leaves a clear desire to earn more in his salary.

He studied hard and got zero

When we look at those who study hard, we think of their success when they take a test. However, many can get a zero or very low score on a test, showing in the contradiction an ironic episode.

Final considerations about irony

Many seek to soften a situation through contradictory comments and actions that convey the weight of it. This is what irony does, primarily leading an event to humor and criticism Whenever an event makes one laugh or causes any harm, one can use this figure of speech.

However, the timing is important, because depending on the event or the person in question, it can sound aggressive. At this point sarcasm builds, as you begin to belittle someone Even if something makes you laugh, know how to argue correctly.

Sign up for our psychoanalysis course

To better evaluate your reactions, enroll in our online course on Clinical Psychoanalysis. Through it, you can properly work on your self-knowledge. In this way, you can properly conduct your actions, verifying their catalysts.

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With their help and an effective incorporation of the lessons into your routine, you will complete the course with honors and receive our printed certificate at home. Get the opportunity to make a difference in your life and understand the practical aspects of irony and how we receive it. Sign up for our Psychoanalysis course!