The Psychology of Humor: Theories and Social Impact
1. Understanding Humor
1.1 What’s Funny?
Humor is a complex phenomenon, encompassing thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It can be a source of joy and connection, as noted by Voltaire and E.B. White. James Thurber highlights the shared nature of humor, often stemming from relatable experiences.
1.2 Basic Elements of Effective Humor
Humor is universal, transcending cultural boundaries. Key elements include a playful mood, the experience of pleasure, and skillful delivery. Timeless themes and situations contribute to humor’s enduring appeal.
1.3 Subjects for Jokes
Common joke topics include social dynamics, relationships, and everyday observations, often involving insults, stereotypes, and the unexpected.
1.4 Factors of a Funny Joke
A successful joke relies on the teller’s enthusiasm, appropriate timing and setting, and relevant content.
1.5 Comedians and Humorists
Comedians engage directly with the audience, while character comedians embody unique personas. Humorists, like writers and speakers, are known for their wit and humor.
1.6 Parody, Satire, and Irony
Parody humorously imitates a style, while satire uses humor to criticize. Irony conveys meaning through opposites, often for humorous effect.
2. Superiority Theory
2.1 Definition
Thomas Hobbes proposed that laughter arises from a sense of superiority over others, aligning with the perception of humor as a form of mockery.
2.2 Historical Perspectives
Greek philosophers and early Christian thinkers viewed laughter as a loss of self-control. Hobbes, during the Enlightenment, expanded on this critique, suggesting that laughter reflects a desire for power and dominance.
2.3 The Butt of Humor
Humor often targets individuals or groups perceived as inferior, reflecting societal attitudes and power dynamics. However, humor can also target those in positions of power, and self-deprecating humor turns the joke on the teller.
2.4 Criticism
Francis Hutcheson argued against Hobbes’ theory, noting that laughter can occur without comparison to others.
3. Relief Theory
3.1 Definitions
Lord Shaftesbury proposed that laughter releases repressed energy, particularly related to societal taboos like sex and hostility. Herbert Spencer viewed laughter as a discharge of nervous energy.
3.2 Praise and Criticism
Relief theory is praised for its non-judgmental approach but criticized for oversimplifying the motivations behind humor.
3.3 Sex and Excreta
Humor related to these taboo subjects is prevalent across cultures, potentially reflecting our primal instincts.
3.4 Death
Humor about death is often more acceptable when using respectful language or euphemisms.
3.5 Religion
Humor targeting religion can be offensive due to specific references, disrespect, or angry criticism.
4. Incongruity Theory
4.1 Definition
Humor arises from the perception of incongruity, where something unexpected or out of context disrupts our learned patterns.
4.2 Praise and Criticism
Incongruity theory is praised for its broad applicability but criticized for not explaining why some incongruities are funnier than others.
4.3 Language-Based Incongruity
Humor can stem from wordplay, puns, and unexpected sentence structures.
4.4 Situation-Based Incongruity
Humor can arise from misunderstandings, violations of social norms, and unexpected twists in events.
5. Stand-Up Comedy and Society
Stand-up comedians often use humor to offer social commentary, challenging authority and questioning societal norms.
6. Sitcoms and Society
6.1 Some Characteristics
Sitcoms reflect societal values and changes over time. Early sitcoms focused on traditional family structures, while later shows explored more diverse themes and relationships.
Sitcoms provide a lens through which we can examine evolving social norms and attitudes.