What’s the difference between a magician and a psychologist?
A magician pulls a rabbit out of a hat, while a psychologist pulls a habit out of a rat.
What’s so funny about this? While there are many possible answers to the question of what is different between a magician and a psychologist, there’s really only one difference that can easily be spoonerized. I’m sure you are familiar with most of the vocabulary in the joke. However, you may not know that when people think of magic and tricks, pulling a rabbit out of a hat is the one that most people will think of. Perhaps in your culture a typical magician’s trick is making carpets fly or sawing people in half. The rabbit trick is very standard in the U.S. The magician shows you an empty hat then places the hat on a table which may or may not be covered by a table cloth. The magician then waves a magic wand, or stick over the hat which may or may not be covered; perhaps he says a few magic words like abracadabra and then, Poof! he sticks his hand into the hat and pulls out a rabbit, which was probably hiding up his sleeve or someplace like that. OK so much for magicians. Now let’s look at Psychology, the science of the mind. Psychology is a very large field. Some psychologists work with people as therapists, others do research with animals such as rats. Both study ways in which to influence and help people’s minds. Rats are very common test animals. Their minds have certain similarities to human brains. Both minds can form habits, or certain compulsive behaviors that they can’t control. So some psychologists try to cure these habits in rats, with the idea that if they are successful they can apply similar practices on human patients. That’s what the psychologist in the joke is doing. Note how the letters R and H have been switched in Rabbit, Hat, Habit, and Rat. Gee, maybe I need a psychologist myself. And THAT’s what’s so funny!
