2010-06-29
Explanation
This comic presents a "Psychology Pro Tip" about treating phobias. A menacing psychologist wearing dark sunglasses holds a knife to a patient'''s face and threatens him: "You will get on a plane and you will not be scared. Why? Because if you don'''t I will find you and f--k you up. I'''ll be under your bed. Outside your window. In the walls. Somewhere. Watching. I will f--k you up, Steven. I will f--k you up." The caption at the bottom reads: "Psychology Pro Tip: Any phobia can be transmuted into a fear of psychologists."
The joke is a darkly absurd take on exposure therapy and phobia treatment. Rather than using legitimate therapeutic techniques to help a patient overcome their fear of flying, this psychologist simply threatens the patient with extreme violence if they do not comply. The "pro tip" sarcastically observes that this approach does not actually cure the phobia -- it just replaces whatever the patient was originally afraid of with a new, arguably more rational fear: being terrorized by their own therapist. The patient will get on the plane, but only because the alternative (being hunted by a knife-wielding psychologist) is even more terrifying.
The votey panel shows the same psychologist cheerfully saying "Oop! Your hour'''s up!" -- snapping back to the professional demeanor of a normal therapy session, as if the threats were just a routine part of the appointment. The contrast between the horrifying content of the session and the casual, chipper sign-off adds an extra layer of dark comedy.