Why Do We Laugh?

I really enjoyed the handout Dr. Williams provided describing the three main theories of why people laugh. One of the questions included on the handout was “What makes something funny?” Although this sounds like a simple question, I was stumped by it. The three theories (relief theory, superiority theory, and incongruity theory) adequately describe most of the reasons I laugh. I had never heard of these before, but each one made me think more deeply about how and why I find things funny. The Superiority Theory of Humor especially stood out to me, when I laugh at something like someone slipping on a banana peel, it never crossed my mind that part of the reason might be because I feel “above” the person or situation. It was interesting to realize how humor can sometimes come from a sense of triumph or relief that it wasn’t me.

I realized that many times when I laugh, I am laughing at someone. It kind of made me sad to realize that this is due to “The Superiority Theory of Humor.” I think I will now be more aware of the content I am laughing at because I don’t want my laughter to come at the expense of someone else’s dignity. This theory made me reflect on how humor can sometimes reinforce judgment or make light of someone’s misfortune, even unintentionally. By recognizing this, I can be more mindful about the kinds of jokes or situations I find funny and try to appreciate humor that connects people rather than divides them.

While watching Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, I became more aware of what I was laughing at. Instead of laughing just because, I began to think critically about the reasons why. One example of when I laugh was when Freddy said “That is the structure of a naked woman and I can appreciate that.” This represents “The Relief Theory of Humor” because I laughed as a way to release nervous energy at the somewhat inappropriate joke.