Editing Teasing (section)

{{Short description|Bullying, with serious or playful intent}}
{{For|the combing method|backcombing}}
[[File:Neckerei eines jungen Paares in Betzinger Tracht.jpg|thumb|Painting of a [[Swabia]]n woman teasing a man by covering his eyes from behind (1890)]]
'''Teasing'''  has multiple meanings and uses. In [[human interaction]]s, teasing exists in three major forms: ''playful'', ''hurtful'',  and ''educative''. Teasing can have a variety of effects, depending on how it is used and its intended effect.<ref>Reddy, V. (1991). Playing with others' expectations: Teasing and mucking about in the first year. (pp. 143–158) Basil Blackwell, Cambridge, MA.</ref> When teasing is unwelcome, it may be regarded as [[harassment]] or [[mobbing]], especially in the workplace and school, or as a form of [[bullying]] or emotional [[abuse]]. If done in public, it may be regarded as [[humiliation]]. Teasing can also be regarded as educative when it is used as a way of [[informal learning]]. Adults in some of the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indigenous American communities]] often tease children to playfully illustrate and teach them how their behavior negatively affects the community. Children in many Indigenous American communities also learn by observing what others do in addition to collaborating with them. Along with teasing, this form of informal learning is different from the ways that Western American children learn. Informal ways of child learning include mutual responsibility, as well as active collaboration with adults and peers. This differentiates from the more formal way of learning because it is not adult-oriented.

People may be teased on matters such as their appearance, weight, behavior, family, gender, faith, health/medical issues, abilities, clothing, and intelligence.<ref>Kowalski, R. (2000). I was only kidding: Victim and perpetrators' perceptions of teasing. ''[[Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin]]'', ''26'', 231–241.</ref> From the victim's point of view, this kind of teasing is often hurtful, irrespective of the intention of the teaser.

One may also tease an [[animal]]. Some animals, such as [[dog]]s and [[cat]]s, may recognize this both as play or harassment.