Comparative study of Joking relationships and Avoidance relationships

Comparative study of Joking relationships and Avoidance relationships

Joking relationships and Avoidance Relationships:

1. According to Radcliffe Brown, a joking relationship shows friendship. For instance, Chappie and Coon maintain that joking is a means to maximum interaction. It also finishes or diminishes conflicts. Similarly, for him, the main cause of avoidance is social. Love and hate are natural among members of two different families. Hatred is harmful to the organization of the family. Avoidance is a cure for this conflict. Presenting this same fact in another way, Chappie and Coon have pointed out that avoidance lessens interaction.

2. Joking relationships are opposed to avoidance relationships. It includes the relationship between the elder brother’s wife and the younger brother of her husband, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, nephew and aunt, etc. Joking is mostly between relationships based upon matrimony and not upon blood relationships. Whereas Avoidance usage prescribes that in certain relationships, men and women must maintain a certain amount of modesty in dress, speech, behaviour, etc. For example, husbands, fathers, mothers, and elder brothers.

3. Joking relationship is between potential partners; in an avoidance relationship, there is no such chance.

4. Avoidance relationship control and discipline relations and sexual intimacy, while joking relationships stimulate interaction and intimacy.

5. Avoidance relationships are maintained to avoid conflict in certain relations, while in joking relationships, conflict is a part of creating intimacy in certain relations.

6. Among primitive societies, joking relationships are found between maternal aunt and her nephew. For example, among Hopi and Trobrianders, it is so prevalent that it even leads to sex relationships. In Avoidance of brother-sister avoidance among Trobriands, if the brother observes his sister making love to some man, all three have to commit suicide.

7. Among Oraon’s, joking is so much effective that sometimes the grand-father marries the grand-daughter. Joking relationships between brother-in-law and sister-in-law are the most popular. Sex relationships among them are equally widespread. In Yokadhir tribe, the daughter-in-law avoids avoidance by not showing her face to her father-in-law or her husband’s elder brother. She cannot directly speak to them, stand in their company, or change clothes in their presence. Thus, she keeps her face covered before them.

In the remarks of Lowie, joking is a psychological tendency among potential mates and avoidance is avoided due to differences in cultural and social values.