Стрессогенные объекты типа «чертик из табакерки»: поведение взрослых и их реакции на реакции детей и друг друга

Человек. 2023. Т. 34. № 4. С. 27–38.

Poddiakov A.

We consider a special class of cultural objects like Jack-in-the-Box. They are scary for many children. Screamers from horror movies and computer video games are phenomena of the same type. We analyze Internet videos in which adults organize children’s encounter with Jack-in-the-Boxes, and comments under the videos. Some adults are upset about the children’s fear and cry, but some others enjoy it. In the comments, one can read emotional polemics between those ones who write that the children’s fear is funny, and Jack-in-the-Boxes do not have negative effects, and those ones who write that it is harmful for children and shameful for the adults doing it for fun and enjoy. From rational-and-pragmatical point of view of evolutionary approach, the objects like Jack-in-the-Boxes can be considered as stress-inducing means of preparation for stress of encounter with novelty and unpredictability.  This does not remove personal moral responsibility from those ones who is seeking enjoy in young children’s fear and cry, and those ones who organize conditions for it. In the future, an analysis of Jack-in-the-Boxes among other counter-exploratory objects punishing for their exploration and curiosity aimed at them can be of interest. The stress of encounter with these objects can be increased by recognition of premeditation of the created provocative situation and disloyalty or treachery of a person creating it.

An example of a video: https://www.vayagif.com/456573/no-volvera-a-acercarse-a-una-tienda-de-disfraces-nunca

Keywords: stress, стресс, полемика, polemics, провокация, provocation, Jack-in-the-box, screamer, Internet video, Чертик из табакерки, скример, интернет-видео