IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
The “just joking” defense uses the joke as a form of deflection. This is a way for children to test boundaries: when they've crossed one, they can back away and not take ownership over what they said. This process allows children to learn. They realize where the social boundaries are, and (hopefully) won't cross them again. By the time someone grows to become an adult, they should have a clear understanding of where these boundaries are. An adult who uses the just joking defense is no longer testing boundaries but is attempting to escape punishment for crossing them
