Incongruity theory, which focuses on the cognitive mechanisms of perception and interpretation, posits that it is the perceptions of incongruity that explain humor (Martin & Ford, 2018). I am based in the UK and just at a time when we need more laughter it seems we are being gagged and guilt tripped into a kind of self-censorship at every turn which is not funny. is an example of 'humor went right. Wheres the incongruity? Confusion rarely leads to humor. The substantive literature is again lacking; however, some studies do show that humor serves as an important coping mechanism for psychiatric patients. Many of us may relate to high-anxiety situations where a joke feels like a much-needed outlet. Hi Heather, The presentation of the sign primes us to think the store is owned, not by an Asian man, but a black person of color. A beautiful piece of sculpture or statuary can do the same. Ghayas, S., & Malik, F. (2013). Violated expectations can indeed be funny, as is acknowledged by incongruity theories of humor. This is a rather cruel witticism but a witticism all the same. One is called 'wit' and the other 'folly'. It recognizes that you cant find a difference between a thing and itself. Comparison, as noted, requires two things. Hence, one would predict that any experienced incongruity would produce humor. Vaughan, J., Zeigler-Hill, V., & Arnau, R. C. (2014). If you want to find humor, look for ways that things dont seem to fit together. You reply with "Why, am I marrying her?" Here the audience is told that the incongruities on offer are objects of humor, not concern. Personally, I find it delightful and love the example and find it more and more humorous each time I experience it. Babies can go from laughing to crying in no time when being tickled [9]. The four-stage model comprises the expectation, incongruity, resolution, and elaboration stages of humor processing. The joke teller then delightfully admonishes the implied silliness of the listener to have been making owl noises rather than responding appropriately to the joke form. Perhaps you fancy some jumbo shrimp? At first the incongruity was unexpected, but now it cant be. https://youtu.be/4K8EH0GAA9Q (0:0 - 1:34) The clip begins with a group of women staring at an attractive, muscular man across the waterpark. And then we experience a sudden, shocking shift in perspective as our brains adjust to the new reality. Philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle have been trying to explain humor since ancient times. If you laugh at the same parts of movies that youve seen before, then that incongruity cant be unexpected. Children also have to realize that they are substituting and are 48 essentially playing around with the structure of the rhyme. This was a great help . The second theory is the incongruity . This is textbook IT. The aim of this dissertation is to offer a new theory of humor that takes seriously both the universality and power of humor in culture. The Incongruity Theory (IT, hereafter) is the dominant theory used in modern research to explain humorous things. The researchers found reductions in anger, anxiety, psychopathology, and depression among participants (Gelkopf, Gonen, Kurs, Melamed, & Bleich, 2006). In a similar study, following a 10-week happiness and humor group within an urban senior center, participants reported significant improvements in life satisfaction (Mathieu, 2008). Peterson and Seligman (2004) propose six virtues and 24 character strengths that fall within each virtue category (a few examples below): Proposed links between humor and positive wellbeing are intuitive; it makes sense that those with a good sense of humor will be in a better position to weather difficult situations, enjoy more cohesive relationships, find humor in all sorts of experiences, and benefit from more positive mental and physical health (Martin, 2019). In the historical fiction novel, Dead End in Norvelt, by Jack Gantos, he includes examples of humor to improve his story. This book assesses the adequacy of the traditional theories of laughter and humor, suggests revised theories, and explores such areas as the aesthetics and ethics of humor, and the relation of amusement to other mental states. A fair warning is needed, as jokes are but a small slice of the humor pie. The IT is still the best working theory out there that has general acceptance. For example, during the Holocaust, victims reported using humor in ghettos, concentration, and death camps to better cope with extreme trauma and adversity (Ostrower, 2015). Research supports this connection. You dont ask about the difference between a single thing; comparison require two things. The incongruity theory purports to define the for-mal object of comic amusement, which it locates in certain kinds of incongruity. As is widely known, theories of humour are traditionally divided in three branches: (1) Theories of incongruity, or inconsistency, or contradiction, or bisociation. Higueras, A., Carretero-Dios, H., Muoz, J., Idini, E., Ortiz, A., Rincn, F., Rodrguez del guila, M. (2006) Effects of a humor-centered activity on disruptive behavior in patients in a general hospital psychiatric ward. The predictive nature of humor, authoritative parenting style, and academic achievement on indices of initial adjustment and commitment to college among college freshmen. Cooper, C., & Sosik, J. Even our vernacular Get it? question, indicates that one has to understand the ideas involved to find humor. So there you have it! IT needs cognition, belief, and expectation to work. The benefits of humor in nursing education. They did not realise this could be done and therefore did not realise they were doing it. 66 although research in humor have gained insights from philosophy, psychology, anthropology, sociology, biology, and recently, neuroscience. Your perception only relates to part of the objectone of its possible uses. This page titled 2.4: Got IT?- Introducing Incongruity Theory is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Michael K. Cundall, Jr. (Lighthearted Philosophers' Society) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request. other humor theories began to challenge the dom-inance of the superiority theory: the relief theory and the incongruity theory. Your mother asks you to give your aunt a ring. The joke uses the idea of a surrealist (artists who tried to pair together ideas that were often extremely different) in order to get the listener to be prepared for absurdities. I was raised as an only child. Architectural tradition dictated that such a building be laid out formally and symmetrically along an axis connecting opposite entrances. (2014). High comedy this isnt; its barely qualifies as a joke. Similarly, Vaughan, Zeigler-Hill, and Arnau (2014) addressed stable and unstable self-esteem among college students and found that participants with stable high self-esteem were lower in less adaptive forms of humor (i.e., self-defeating humor). The Theories of Humor and Laughter. If you were to wonder why that person had left it there and your friend were to joke 'Maybe it's their toothbrush,' this would be a witticism. Want to know more about defense mechanisms? By Steve Buissinne, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. At least not the clocks I know. Perhaps this isnt a great joke, but it is a sort typically seen in children. Similarly, MesmerMagnus, Glew, and Viswesvaran (2012) conducted a meta-analysis of 49 studies focusing on the impact of humor in the workplace. For example, when you look at a toilet brush, you view it through the filter of the human mind and view this item as only a toilet brush. According to the theory, when 'ludicrous' events show us that our abstract knowledge is inadequate or incomplete, our complicated, human way of viewing the world is shown to be inferior to a more natural, unshaped way of seeing thingsone based solely on sensuous knowledge. My siblings took it pretty hard. The use of humor in serious mental illness: A review. If you were to see a character brushing their teeth with a toilet brush in a slapstick comedy show, it would be amusing. You can perform this sort of analysis on most any of the jokes or humor youve experienced. Well thats the big question and one that occupies and vexes many researchers (this author included). Marziali, E., McDonald, L., & Donahue, P. (2008). Here the piece of abstract knowledge applicable to multiple pieces of sensuous knowledge is a word ('fire'), and so here we have an example of wordplay creating folly. Another issue with IT comes from my continued delight at the parrot joke. For example, you could buy five pigs. I hate everyone equally. Rowe, A., & Regehr, C. (2010). Humor and oncology. Wanzer, M., Booth-Butterfield, M., & Booth-Butterfield, S. (2005). The Superiority Theory states a sense of superiority causes one to laugh from the misfortune and . Understanding humor based on the incongruity theory and the cooperative principle. There are three main concepts that guide this research; relief theory, incongruity theory, and superiority theory. Quoted in Huemer n.d. Really almost any placid, extraordinarily dry, joke from Wright might stand as a counter-example to the Relief theory. Superiority Theory. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. The superiority theory is concerned with the affective response Think about whats required for you to get a joke. If youre looking for more science-based ways to help others overcome adversity, this collection contains. On the pigs paint the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 5. Three traditional theories of laughter and humor are examined, along with the theory that humor evolved from mock-aggressive play in apes. When people write jokes, or develop humor, they find ways to play with the concepts, but not so much as make the incongruities completely nonsensical. Top humor theories are described, along with the role of humor as both a defense mechanism and character strength. 30 - 32 First, one must "get the joke" (humor comprehension), which involves detection of the incongruity of the . In-congruity theories are essentially cognitive, i.e. We struggle to understand why. One says to the other: Does this taste funny to you?. According to the Benign Violation Theory (BVT), something is perceived as humorous when it hits the "sweet spot," where there is not only a violation, but where the violation is also perceived as benign. It has long been believed that humor and laughter play an important role in the maintenance of both psychological and physiological health and wellbeing in the face of stress (Lefcourt & Martin, 1986). But not for them. A quote from E.B. Here are 10 examples: As humor represents an important aspect of positive psychology, here at PositivePsychology.com, we have described several ways in which humor contributes to positive wellbeing. Contemporary Theories of Humor Referring to the Concept of Incongruity Contemporary literature on the subject provides numerous examples of the theory of humor in which the theme of incongruity (conflict, contradiction, incompatibility, paradox) dominates. I'd be very surprised.". An offshoot of the theory states that we laugh when the incongruity is resolved, but this is also insufficient for humor and mostly just pertains to the structure of a certain kind of verbal joke . The effect of humor on elder mental and physical health. Irrelevance that is in a funny way; something out of place that makes you laugh.Fast and visual humor. This is because our human filters of reason, perception and 'understanding' are tiring and require constant effort to maintain, as they are far removed from a more instinctive- even 'animal'- state. There are a number of elements here that speak in support of IT. While more research is sorely needed, extant literature suggests that humor may have many benefits among patients, such as enhanced immunity and positive emotions, improved interpersonal relationships, reduced pain, and increased positive emotions (Gelkopf, 2011). You tell your friend to 'Look up the answer'. For example, the mechanism of denial, when used by addicts, serves as a barrier to accepting the addiction and seeking help. Certainly children had laughed and giggled prior to language (laughter is evidenced before language after all and is thus a deeper part of our evolutionary history), but this active playing with language and expectations is a mature form of humor, even if its seen as immature to the more advanced humor connoisseurs we all find ourselves to be. In comedy, this often means that any kind of logic or familiarity is going to be replaced with something entirely different. Infants tend to laugh when parents make funny faces and sounds, hide their faces before they. The hostility theories address the aggressive aspect of humor, i.e., the fact that often, but not always, humor is directed against someone. If you dont find yourself laughing nearly enough, here are six things you can do: Two cannibals are eating a clown. For example, among physicians who work with dying patients, humor has been reported as one of eight coping mechanisms used to handle the extreme stress involved in doing this type of work (Schulman-Green, 2003). Mathieu, S. (2008). Elucidating the bonds of workplace humor: A relational process model. A metaanalysis of positive humor in the workplace. Humor plays an essential role in buffering the impact of stress and is important for positive wellbeing among both children and seniors. 1. ("full resolution") b) Resolution makes the original incongruity less incongruous. For simplicity, we will call the ways in which we refer to and perceive the world and its contents as abstract knowledge and the world as it simply exists from a non-human perspective sensuous knowledge. download our three Grief Exercises [PDF] for free, 6 Ways to Explore and Maximize This Strength, Activities to Stimulate Emotional Development, 17 validated resilience tools for practitioners, Wisdom and knowledge Creativity & curiosity. Describes the works of dermot bolger, e.m. forster, and kazuo ishiguro. Martin and Ford (2018) describe the three top humor theories. This little joke is pretty good at being absurd. Schopenhaeur believes we relate to everything in the world through our perceptions. Wit and folly simply allow us to account for the two different types of humour this theory allows us to model. According to Schopenhauer, incongruity theory allows all of the 'ludicrous' to be divided into two categories. During the humor activity period, patients were reported as having significant decreases in multiple disruptive behaviors including self-injury, fighting, and attempted escapes (Higueras et al., 2006). Samson, A., Glassco, A., Lee, I., & Gross, J. When in reality, it is simply a medium-sized tool for brushing. Ruch, W., Proyer, R., & Weber, M. (2010). Humor theories and the physiological benefits of laughter. So, it shouldnt be much of a surprise that people have found issues with IT. For instance, the Benign Violation theory of humor developed by a team of psychologists at the University of Colorado Boulder explains funny as a series non-threatening violations of social norms [source: McGraw and Warren].Essentially, a joke should violate some sort of cultural practice or value, but at a . Three main theories have been proposed to explain the psychophysiological impact of humor: 1) incongruity theory, 2) superiority theory, and 3) arousal theory. 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