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Decommitment is used in which of the following ways?

(a) To show an audience disapproval of inappropriate humor. (b) To introduce new humor paradigms to audiences.
(c) To diffuse tension when a statement offends someone.
(d) As a segue to another topic in social conversation."

User Drprofee
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Final answer:

Decommitment appears related to techniques used in comedy and social interactions to manage tension, critique norms, or transition between conversational topics.

Step-by-step explanation:

Decommitment in the context of humour and social interaction is not specifically defined in the provided text, but one can infer its usage. However, based on the discussions of humour, theatre, comedy, and irony, it could be related to strategies for managing social situations by either reducing the perceived threat of a joke or withdrawing from a particular stance or engagement in conversation.Comedy, as mentioned, often involves a release for potentially threatening thoughts or actions made benign through humour, implying that decommitment may serve to diffuse tension (option c). Erving Goffman's dramaturgical analysis asserts that interactions require role improvisation, which could be necessary when decommitting from a previous role or stance (option d). Satire, which uses humour to critique, might also be a form of decommitment from societal norms by the satirist (option b).

User Edward Ned Harvey
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