In 2010, the movie Jackass 3-D—based on the reality show that spanned just 25 episodes—raked in just over $50 million on its opening weekend.
One of its most notable moments? Tee Ball, when Steve-O stands in his underwear waiting to be slammed in the balls with, that’s right, a tee-ball.
Watch it with a bunch of guys, and it’s inevitably one of the scenes that will trigger the most laughs. But, getting kicked in the balls yourself hurts pretty damn bad, as we reported. So why do we think it’s hilarious to see another guy take a major knock to the nuts?
Relax: It doesn’t mean you’re a sociopath.
The biggest reason you can’t stop laughing when you see a nut shot is because you know damn well getting a blow to the balls is excruciating. So when you see the buildup to another guy getting hit in the crotch, it creates a feeling of tension, since you can’t help but worry about your own family jewels. Once it happens, and you can tell the other guy wasn’t seriously hurt, you can start laughing to help release the tension, says clinical psychologist Richard Shuster, Psy.D., host of The Daily Helping podcast.
“When we’re watching a crazy stunt that we expect could result in significant injury, there is an inherent build up of tension,” says Dr. Shuster. “When the gag is over, part of our enjoyment is the relief we experience when our expectations for injuries are unmet.”
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Another reason: In shows like Jackass, there’s a degree of ridiculousness involved that makes us laugh right off the bat, he says, because they set it up with a huge degree of anticipation for the stunt. If something similar happened by accident, especially in front of you, it’s likely you would find it far more serious, according to Dr. Shuster.
Plus, non-planned nut shots—super common in America’s Funniest Home Videos, for instance—represent something known as the “incongruity theory,” he explains. That’s when we enjoy when things are inconsistent with our expectations. It’s different from, say, the Tee-Ball sketch on Jackass, where you’re just waiting for ball blaster.
When watching a video of a dad pitching a Wiffle ball to his young son, for example, your learned expectation would be that the kid would swing and miss—or, at least, make contact in the vast majority of other directions that wouldn’t send his father crumpling to the ground. The incongruity comes in when your expectations are dashed and the kid makes solid contact instead, driving the ball directly into the dad’s nuts.
Distance plays a part in your glee as well, notes Dr. Shuster. It’s kind of why you’re more likely to crack up when you see a guy get whacked in the balls on TV or YouTube than you would if the guy walking next to you takes a hit to his undercarriage. That depersonalizes us from the experience and lends a sense of safety to the viewer. So you’re allowed to laugh at the “other” and not worry that your own balls are at risk.
Finally, our culture likely plays a role, too.
“Research into humor suggests American audiences are far more likely to like this aggressive kind of comedy compared to, say, the British, who are known for drier humor,” Dr. Shuster says. (Find out why you feel sick to your stomach after getting hit in the balls.)
So in the vast majority of cases, your laughter at the ball shots is nothing to worry about. But there is a possibility that it can cross a line, says clinical psychologist John Mayer, Ph.D., at Doctor on Demand. When it becomes a fixation, that’s not so normal.
“Abnormal would be when that person looks for instances to watch people in pain, becoming fascinated with that,” he says, adding that such an obsession may fall into the “seek help” category.
Another red flag? You don’t pick up on the social signals around you. In other words, if your guy friends aren’t laughing, but you’re finding a pain-filled moment hilarious, you might need to dial it back, says Mayer. (For more stories like this delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our Daily Dose newsletter.)
