Why do men tell sexist or offensive jokes, particularly at the most inappropriate times?

[GoodEnoughThen]

What is the real psychology behind this behavior? I see it play out as either: 1) social hierachy and approval testing, eg- jokes told by men in groups only with other men, or 2) attention-seeking, eg- jokes in multi-sex groups (at inappropriate times), where the guy desparately (?) wants some attention brought back his way because he feels unnoticed or left out. Thoughts?

[Effably]

I always imagined it is to help out. Hear me out.

As men we have very few socially acceptable ways to cope with bad stuff. Most of them boil down to "just deal with".

Humor is one accepted way we do have. Darker humor especially is a very known way to approach otherwise difficult things. We know that humor serves as a means of coping with bad stuff.

Now insert our emotionally repressed man. Has no real experience offering help. Never been allowed being emotional in public. However, an insensitive joke, even a highly offensive and upsetting one, does take the edge off. Anger is easier than grief for most.

Of course there is the flipside where they're just bad people. But I believe more than half fall into the trying to help but with no knowledge or confidence of how.

[chrissykerdock]

isn't being asked to get on your knees sexist

[anmari2001]

what other time other time you can do those

[DishLady]

You tell me... That's not in my wheelhouse.