ulysses is a good example. Introduction. Incongruity denotes the incoherence between the interpretation of two parts of a joke, namely, its setup and punchline. I hope thats not the case below, but youll likely find the jokes less funny for the analysis. In order to get whatever may be going on in this poorly formed joke, you need to know that Etruscans were an ancient civilization in Italy that was conquered by the Romans early on in the Roman Empires history. Raskin, Victor. As is widely known, theories of humour are traditionally divided in three branches: (1) Theories of incongruity, or inconsistency, or contradiction, or bisociation. But this also shows how deeply cognitive the act is. My siblings took it pretty hard. One type of humor Jack uses is irony. With this collection of information, it is the hope that readers will better understand humor and its many benefits, while maybe even enjoying a few chuckles along the way. You reply with "Why, am I marrying her?" 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. Clearly, they understand about expectation and then are using the unexpected presence of the new word to create humor. A fair warning is needed, as jokes are but a small slice of the humor pie. By Steve Buissinne, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. (2011, 44) point out the . However, most evidence proposing a link between humor and improved health is anecdotal. Lets look at a couple of jokes with varying levels of complexity. Wanzer, M., Booth-Butterfield, M., & Booth-Butterfield, S. (2005). (2002). It fits with current scientific approaches, it conforms and relates to our everyday experience of humor, and its also explanatory. They offer to 'cool you down' and you agree. Lastly, following humor therapy sessions, elderly nursing home residents showed a reduced duration of agitation and an increased duration of happiness (Low et al., 2014). One such popular incongruity theory is the incongruity-resolution (IR) theory, which is especially useful for computational models due to its mechanical (rather than descriptive) nature. How many surrealists does it take to change a lightbulb? Describes the works of dermot bolger, e.m. forster, and kazuo ishiguro. Schulman-Green, D. (2003). For example, the irony in Oedipus the King. Additionally, in their comprehensive review, Cooper and Sosik (2012) reported that humor at the workplace was linked to enhanced relationships, more creative thinking, more collaborative negotiations, and better customer relations. Bach can please someone with no knowledge of classical music or instruments. Self-esteem instability and humor styles: Does the stability of self-esteem influence how people use humor? A quote from E.B. Thank you very much, for your good work! But then the coda of the joke, in attempting to explain the answer muddies the conceptual space. The listener, in line four, not really knowing if the term spoken earlier is who or hoo, but likely assumes the former, then follows along with the standard knock-knock joke format. Two pieces of sensuous knowledgeto have a fan used on you and to have a drink poured over you- are brought under the single piece of abstract knowledge, 'to be cooled down'. Cambridge Journals publishes over 250 peer-reviewed academic journals across a wide range of subject areas, in print and online. The child will continue playing with that rhyme substituting words here and there both with others and by themselves. The effect of humor on elder mental and physical health. The concepts involved must be related in some way or else the audience will be confused. Trust me, it'll make it simpler in the long run! Engaging in a humor exercise is associated with a positive mood (Edwards, 2013) and positive cognitive appraisals (Maiolino & Kuiper, 2016). This does not mean that IT is not without its problems. Incongruity: Conflicting ideas, bizarre juxtapositions, and any other gaps between expectations and reality create comedy. High comedy this isnt; its barely qualifies as a joke. Gelkopf, M. (2011). they reply simply with "Thank you!" The researchers found that greater wellbeing was related to affiliative and self-enhancing humor, whereas reduced wellbeing was linked to aggressive and self-defeating humor (Maiolino & Kuiper, 2016). #2: The Incongruity and Incongruity-Resolution Theories One of the oldest andmost developed theories of humor adopted by Kant, refined by Schopenhauer is, roughly,that humor happens. (2006). Among humans, laughter begins as early as four months of age (Lovorn, 2008). But as a tool for explicating humor theories, jokes are compact, easily digestible, and thus make for useful examples. 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. Well thats the big question and one that occupies and vexes many researchers (this author included). Lovorn, M. (2008). This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Give yourself a pat on the back! Superiority Theory. Effects of humor in the language classroom: Humor as a pedagogical tool in theory and practice. 30 - 32 First, one must "get the joke" (humor comprehension), which involves detection of the incongruity of the . My son used to change the last word of the first line of the famous Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star rhyme. In this way, humor results from feelings of triumph over the errors or misfortune of others, which promotes self-enhancement and feelings of superiority. When we are shown it is inadequate, we feel we can relax our reliance on it. But before we move on to critiques, lets explore some other facts about humor that support the notion that humor is a cognitive act that requires some form of perceived incongruity. However, it is safe to say that IT is accepted by most researchers as the most accurate and likely true approach to explaining humor. Humor theories and the physiological benefits of laughter. Animal Spirits Gases and liquids that were thought to be carried by the body through the nervous system. Hopefully this tour has shown how and why IT is the leading candidate for explaining humor perception. The use of defense mechanisms may have positive or negative ramifications depending upon the particular mechanism and how it is used. What are you allergic to? queried a stressed nurse as a gunshot victim was rushed into the ER. None, they were dead before electricity was invented. Incongruity in humor is something that feels out of place, odd, or is unexpected from a logical, predictable, or familiar point of view. With this definition we can make the connection it has with . Humor was the weapon of those whose lives were utterly in the hands of the executioners, those who were powerless to rebel or resist in any other way.. For some, this sort of play with language shows that real incongruity-based humor has taken root. By filling out your name and email address below. Humor just feels good; it distracts us from our problems and promotes a lighter perspective. Whatever gets you through today: An examination of cynical humor among emergency service professionals. In order for any two people to share a joke, its important that they share a certain conceptual or knowledge base. The main issue with IT is that not all incongruities we experience lead to humor. And so, with laughter and love, we lived happily ever after. The whole joke is layered with absurdities. Two main theories of humor studies can be identified. Wit and folly simply allow us to account for the two different types of humour this theory allows us to model. According to this theory, people are able to . Laughter and mirth, according to relief theory, result from this release of nervous energy. humor is - first and foremost - a recognition of and response to incongruities.) The effects of human therapy on nursing home residents measured using observational methods: The SMILE cluster randomized trial. A beautiful piece of sculpture or statuary can do the same. Here are 18 examples of studies showing evidence of humor as a strength. They now look silly but you have had it pointed out to you that abstract knowledge is insufficient in this sense. Growing up with humor sets children on a more positive pathway. 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). That is why, although the Incongruity Theory freed humor from the traditional stigma of being anti-social, it has not . 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). There are three major families of theories of humor: humor as release, humor as aggression, and humor as incongruity. For example, even if well-documented evidence could be collected to show that people with a sense of humor live longer, it might be that they have a sense of humor because they are healthy and things are going well. Its not without its issues or critics. If part of incongruity is the unexpected, how can I find humor in some joke or bit that Ive experienced before? Your friend has started out with two pieces of sensuous knowledgea medium brush we use for toilets and a small one we use for teethand intentionally grouped them both under the abstract knowledge of 'toothbrush'. 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. Incongruity Theories' mechanism of causing laughter then goes to work on you. There are samples, in the provided dataset, that uses the incongruity to create humor . The difference between the two is all about how the contrasts between abstract knowledge and sensuous knowledge are shown. A metaanalysis of positive humor in the workplace. Realising that this more 'natural', instinctive way of seeing the world is in this moment a better way of seeing things as they really are gives us pleasure. This objection, if true, radically undermines IT. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Humor styles and their relationship to explicit and implicit self-esteem. Humor, stress, and coping strategies. The Superiority Theory Defense mechanisms are believed to protect the ego from emotional pain through the unconscious minds distortion of reality. For example, research by Ganz and Jacobs (2014) indicated that attending a humor therapy workshop was associated with positive mental health outcomes among seniors. These moments constitute 'the ludicrous'. When in reality, it is simply a medium-sized tool for brushing. This explains why humor is found more in times of leisure and play than anywhere else. This is a rather cruel witticism but a witticism all the same. For example, current neuroscience indicates that the areas that support higher-level conceptual thought, are involved in humor processing. As an important high-level cognitive activity, humor plays a crucial role in human social life. Klein, D., & Kuiper, N. (2006). Apparently, we're all seething cauldrons of fluid and gas, trying to get out and making us wacky. The linguistics of humor is more generally concerned with incongruity theories as they describe the cognitive mechanisms that cause humor. Detrimental humor (e.g., sarcasm and self-disparaging humor), on the other hand, is believed to have potentially negative ramifications such as reduced relationship quality and low self-esteem (Martin, 2019). You're now up to speed with incongruity theory. Twain had a point, as the research literature supports a relationship between humor and a wide range of positive psychosocial outcomes. For example, among college students enrolled in language courses, 72% noted that humor enhanced their interest in the subject matter, 82% reported that the instructors use of humor made them more approachable, and 82% indicated that humor created an environment more conducive to learning (Askildson, 2005). There are five different theories that categorize the different reasons why find things humorous. We also acknowledge previous National Science Foundation support under grant numbers 1246120, 1525057, and 1413739. But if you know nothing of the Etruscans you couldnt possibly make sense of it. You tell your friend to 'Look up the answer'. That we see areas of the brain involved in higher level cognition and conceptual thought involved in humor behavior supports ITs claim that humor is a conceptually based activity that involve incongruity processing. The use of humor in serious mental illness: A review. In previous studies, most researchers used two-element jokes (setup and punch line) as stimuli, based on experimental methods, to explore the humor process. For this reason, many famous quotes have been penned about the benefits of humor, such as: The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. The right side is exactly the same as the left, especially the left. Hence weve found a counter-example to the theory. Research has supported this idea. Dark or twisted humor is an acquired taste, as not everyone appreciates the taboo humor others find in disturbing subject matter. We realize that something doesn't match up. 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. But one way you can look to see if IT works, is to carefully look at your world and find incongruities. In this instance, a person starts out with a piece of abstract knowledge and unknowingly connects it to two pieces of sensuous knowledge. This idea is borne out by research such as that by Liu (2012), who conducted a study with undergraduate students in Hong Kong. White is clear on this, in a humorous, IT 46 supporting way. For more on the Relief theory, see Morreall 1983, 20-37; Roberts 2019, 91-93, and Freud 1960. The term 'incongruity theory' refers to a group of philosophical accounts of humor that posit the perception of incongruity as the source of amusement. For more information, visit http://journals.cambridge.org. Sense of humor as predictor of creativity level in university undergraduates. Remember, regardless of whether we are talking about wit or folly, what makes us laugh is the incongruity we realise exists between abstract and sensuous knowledge. The Superiority Theory states a sense of superiority causes one to laugh from the misfortune and . Humor's Bad Reputation 2. The concept of defense mechanisms originated in psychoanalytic theory. For example, in a famous scene on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mary is distressed by the death of Chuckles the Clown, who, while dressed as a peanut, was killed by an elephant in a circus parade. In the most general sense, the Incongruity Theory states that in order for something to be found funny or humorous, one needs to perceive a sort of incongruity. Because this obvious fact about humor shows how much, cognitively speaking, is required of us when we experience and enjoy humor. These three theories have been, in modern research and historically, the main candidates attempting to explain what is necessary for us to find something funny. They never seem to tire of it. Think about whats required for you to get a joke. a) Resolution makes the original incongruity no longer incongruous. The second theory is the incongruity . they are based on some objective characteristics of a humorous text or other act (situation, event, picture, etc.). The Incongruity Theory (IT, hereafter) is the dominant theory used in modern research to explain humorous things. 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). There are 3 main theories used to explain the functions of humor: (1) the relief theory, (2) the incongruity theory, and (3) the superiority theory. Want to know more about defense mechanisms? Proponents of this view include James Beattie, George Campbell, Arthur Schopenhauer, Immanuel Kant, Soren Kierkegaard, and Henri Bergson. The Incongruity Theory reveals the affinity between philosophy and comedy and rebukes the argument that humor is "hostile and irresponsible" (Morreall) . Gantos uses a variety of humor to make his book more interesting, including schadenfreude, incongruity theory and farce. This explains why laughter is caused when people recognize taboo subjectsone typical example is Its also one of the reasons that humor doesnt usually cross cultures. Humor as character strength and its relation to life satisfaction and happiness in Autism Spectrum Disorders. I'd be very surprised.". They ignore this fact and so foolishly use one as the other. Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog. 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. The use of humor in medicine has also been studied from the perspective of healthcare workers. The incongruity theory purports to define the for-mal object of comic amusement, which it locates in certain kinds of incongruity. Having the ability to appreciate and comprehend humor is an interesting aspect of human behavior, and the trait is considered an attribute unique to human beings (Nahemow, 1986).Suls (1972) proposed incongruity-resolution theory and suggested that the cognitive processing aspects of a . The editorial policy of the journal pursues the aims of the Institute: to promote the study of philosophy in all its branches: logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, aesthetics, social and political philosophy and the philosophies of religion, science, history, language, mind and education. Thats a really interesting topic youre exploring. 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). If the joke were truly nonsensical, the response wouldnt be humor, it would be confusion. Here your friend has unknowingly brought two pieces of sensuous knowledgethe acts of looking up an answer online and of stealing it from the answers to the testunder the single piece of abstract knowledge, the idea of 'finding out an answer'. This play then leads to a feeling of delight in the form of humor or mirth. And why not? By Yuvika Koul, CC BY-SA 3.0, via wikimedia. Martin and Ford (2018) describe the three top humor theories. People with a sense of humor tend to be less egocentric and more realistic in their view of the world and more humble in moments of success and less defeated in times of travail. Incongruity theory is believed to be the most influential humor theory, with some proposing that incongruity is at the core of all humor (Zhan, 2012, p. 95). To understand incongruity in non-words, it is important to know that some letters are more likely than others in the English language (e.g., "E" is more frequent than "Q"), and furthermore . Measured using observational methods: the SMILE cluster randomized trial humor theories, jokes are compact, digestible... Three top humor theories, jokes are but a witticism all the same of fluid gas. Others find in disturbing subject matter but youll likely find the jokes less for! 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