Final answer:
The term you're looking for is satire, which uses humor and ridicule to criticize and expose hypocrisy and foolishness, especially in societal norms and institutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The literary term that is usually pessimistic and has the purpose of exposing the hypocrisy that results in the harm of others is satire. Satire is used to criticize folly, silly, or immoral practices, particularly in politics or other spheres of authority. It accomplishes this through humor, exaggeration, or ridicule. A satirical work makes the audience laugh, but also conveys a serious message about the subject it targets. Famous satirical authors like Jonathan Swift and Juvenal have used this technique to highlight the absurdity of societal norms and the hypocrisy within institutions.
The primary goal of satire is to bring about social change or to prevent the harm caused by the hypocrisy it exposes. While it can be confused with irony or parody, which may also aim at criticism, satire is distinctive in its approach to creating a parallel close to real-life events that prompts reflection from the reader.