Editing Dozens (game) (section)

== Analysis ==
A variety of explanations have been offered for the popularity of the Dozens. Its development is intertwined with the oppression African Americans encountered, first as slaves and later as second-class citizens. 

John Dollard viewed the Dozens as a manifestation of [[Frustration–aggression hypothesis|frustration aggression theory]], a theory that he helped develop. He hypothesized that African Americans, as victims of racism, have been unable to respond in kind towards their oppressors, and instead shifted their anger to friends and neighbors, as displayed in the strings of insults.<ref>Dollard, pp. 290–294.</ref> Folklorist [[Alan Dundes]] asserted that an approach based on [[psychoanalytic theory]] and American oppression ignores the possibility that the Dozens may be native to Africa. In addition to similar forms of verbal combat found in [[Nigeria]] and [[Ghana]], where many African Americans have ancestral roots, [[Bantu peoples|Bantu]] and [[Kisii people|Kisii]] boys have been observed dueling verbally by attacking each other's mothers.<ref>Dundes, pp. 295–297.</ref>

The game is also viewed as a tool for preparing young African Americans to cope with verbal abuse without becoming enraged. The ability to remain composed during the Dozens is considered a hallmark of virtue among many African Americans. 
 
<blockquote>In the deepest sense, the essence of the dozens lies not in the insults but in the response of the victim. Taking umbrage is considered an infantile response. Maturity and sophistication bring the capability to suffer the vile talk with aplomb at least, and, hopefully, with grace and wit.<ref name=lefever/></blockquote>

Nonetheless, many such contests do end in fights. Abrahams states that when African Americans reach a certain age, between 16 and 26, the game loses much of its appeal and attempts to enter into sparring contests often result in violence.<ref name=abrahams/> John Leland writes that the loser of the Dozens is the one who takes his opponent's words at face value, therefore ending his own performance in the back-and-forth exchange.<ref name="leland2004"/>