Page 33 - Effective communication Skills by Dale King

1. Insecurity

When a person uses a sarcastic tone, they are trying to hide insecurity about
something. Some use sarcasm or teasing to avoid confrontation because they
are afraid to actually ask for what they want.

2. Latent Anger

Sarcasm can simply be a passive-aggressive way to assert dominance. For a
person who is upset or angry, but is afraid of bringing it up, they will use

sarcasm to disguise their barb.

3. Social Awkwardness

When people aren’t that great at reading people around them, or they aren’t
sure how to carry on a conversation will sometimes use sarcasm to try and
sound affectionate or playful. This is simply another version of insecurity, but
this is common to hear at parties or other types of events. They will use it to

try to lighten the mood; unfortunately, it will often have the opposite effect.

Sarcasm does not only tend to be hurtful, but it is one of the least genuine
forms of communication. It’s important that you watch the things you say.
Sarcasm isn’t funny because it normally involves hurting another person. It
isn’t going to improve a relationship or lighten the mood. There are other fun
ways to lighten the mood, but picking on a person, and that is basically what
you are doing, isn’t going to help. You will lose a lot of respect if you

constantly use sarcasm.

To be able to control and maintain a real conversation, make sure you
remember these three important things: show curiosity, actively listen, and
cut out the sarcasm.