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When Humor Hurts: The Theory of “Joke Capital”

Certain types of humor are thought inappropriate in some circumstances but accepted in others. A new theory seeks to explain what influences such views.

Certain types of humor are thought inappropriate in some circumstances but accepted in others. A new theory seeks to explain what influences such views.

When Humor Hurts: The Ethics of Joking and Comedy

Because humor can sometimes trigger ill feelings, philosophers and scientists are studying the phenomenon to help determine how we can balance free speech and mutual respect.

Because humor can sometimes trigger ill feelings, philosophers and scientists are studying the phenomenon to help determine how we can balance free speech and mutual respect.

Adolescence and Increased Sensitivity to Social Teasing

At an age of growing insecurity, adolescents can put each other down to protect or feel better about themselves, meanly teasing when they do.

At an age of growing insecurity, adolescents can put each other down to protect or feel better about themselves, meanly teasing when they do.

When Nothing Plus Nothing Equals Laughter

Laughter usually follows our doing something amusing: spilling a drink, dropping a cookie, missing a plane. But on occasion, doing absolutely nothing can also reveal shortcomings.

Laughter usually follows our doing something amusing: spilling a drink, dropping a cookie, missing a plane. But on occasion, doing absolutely nothing can also reveal shortcomings.

Should Psychologists Include Humor in Their Practice?

Can laughter heal? Therapy and humor can be powerful tools for healing, but they can be tricky. Learn the benefits and risks for therapists.

Can laughter heal? Therapy and humor can be powerful tools for healing, but they can be tricky. Learn the benefits and risks for therapists.

My Genius for Irreverence

A Personal Perspective: I am a relentless teaser, but perhaps my irreverence has taught me some lessons in critical thinking.

A Personal Perspective: I am a relentless teaser, but perhaps my irreverence has taught me some lessons in critical thinking.

Success and the 4 Universal Outcomes of Therapy

Being successful, in the simplest terms, means you are flourishing. But flourishing isn’t something that happens from the outside in; it’s something internal.

Being successful, in the simplest terms, means you are flourishing. But flourishing isn’t something that happens from the outside in; it’s something internal.

How Pragmatics Informs Humor Theory

An interview with Dr. Salvatore Attardo, an expert in both pragmatics and humor, provides key insights into how context profoundly influences our appreciation of humorous stimuli.

An interview with Dr. Salvatore Attardo, an expert in both pragmatics and humor, provides key insights into how context profoundly influences our appreciation of humorous stimuli.

Your Anticipatory Laughter: The Hilarity of Things to Come

Expressing a sense of mutual vulnerability with laughter usually follows a drop or a rise in status, but sometimes it’s done in anticipation of such a change. Why should that be?

Expressing a sense of mutual vulnerability with laughter usually follows a drop or a rise in status, but sometimes it’s done in anticipation of such a change. Why should that be?

The Healing Power of Laughter in Amy Herzog’s “Mary Jane”

In “Mary Jane,” humor meets heartbreak in caregiving. Learn how laughter offers healing, backed by research on its profound psychological benefits.

In “Mary Jane,” humor meets heartbreak in caregiving. Learn how laughter offers healing, backed by research on its profound psychological benefits.

Don't Laugh at Me; Laugh With Me

Create a home culture where everyone is in on the joke, and everyone is elevated with kind humor. Humor can be incredibly healing, or it can be harmful.

Create a home culture where everyone is in on the joke, and everyone is elevated with kind humor. Humor can be incredibly healing, or it can be harmful.

The Improv Cure

Classes in improvisational comedy, where people have the freedom to be silly and risk embarrassment, can be especially helpful to those suffering from social anxiety.

Classes in improvisational comedy, where people have the freedom to be silly and risk embarrassment, can be especially helpful to those suffering from social anxiety.

Why Ironic Situations Can Be So Amusing

The notion of irony is often linked to both laughter and humor. What is it about being ironic, or having a plan fall short in a spectacular way, that so often cultivates giddiness?

The notion of irony is often linked to both laughter and humor. What is it about being ironic, or having a plan fall short in a spectacular way, that so often cultivates giddiness?

An Anecdote for Alzheimer’s and Depression

For me, laughter has made all the difference in lifting my faith and hope while the brightest minds in the world are racing for a cure for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

For me, laughter has made all the difference in lifting my faith and hope while the brightest minds in the world are racing for a cure for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

How Memes Help Us Cope

Internet memes offer commentary on everything from Kate Middleton to the Dune popcorn bucket—and their humor helps us cope with stress, anxiety, and disappointment.

Internet memes offer commentary on everything from Kate Middleton to the Dune popcorn bucket—and their humor helps us cope with stress, anxiety, and disappointment.

The Relationship Between Laughter and Luck

Laughter is a normal reaction to modest failings and unanticipated wins, but what about the outcomes of blind chance? One theory reveals why they, too, can inspire its expression.

Laughter is a normal reaction to modest failings and unanticipated wins, but what about the outcomes of blind chance? One theory reveals why they, too, can inspire its expression.

The Benefits of Humor in Therapy

Humor is an underappreciated element in psychotherapy—one that can reduce anxiety, increase perspective, and strengthen the psychotherapeutic relationship.

Humor is an underappreciated element in psychotherapy—one that can reduce anxiety, increase perspective, and strengthen the psychotherapeutic relationship.

Deception as Play

Mischief is play as long as it stays playful.

Mischief is play as long as it stays playful.

The Humor that Leaves a Great Impression

Doing impressions is a common technique for inspiring feelings of amusement. Comedians impersonate familiar, everyday individuals, as well as famous ones. Here‘s why it works.

Doing impressions is a common technique for inspiring feelings of amusement. Comedians impersonate familiar, everyday individuals, as well as famous ones. Here‘s why it works.

Some Potential Rules for Life

The rules for life are simple. Laugh often, be authentic, respect and inspire others, be grateful, and be intentional with your actions. Live as you want others to see you.

The rules for life are simple. Laugh often, be authentic, respect and inspire others, be grateful, and be intentional with your actions. Live as you want others to see you.

Teasing Apes Suggest Humor Has Deep Evolutionary Roots

Do apes have a sense of humor? Scientists find all four great ape species engage in playful teasing, a precursor of joking behavior.

Do apes have a sense of humor? Scientists find all four great ape species engage in playful teasing, a precursor of joking behavior.

How Early Do Infants Understand Humor?

Pre-verbal infants go quickly from giggling at silly faces to attempting comedy themselves. Laughter is a powerful tool that builds allegiances.

Pre-verbal infants go quickly from giggling at silly faces to attempting comedy themselves. Laughter is a powerful tool that builds allegiances.

Embrace a Theme for Success

A Personal Perspective: A theme word is not the same as a resolution. Having a theme for the year is setting an intention rather than a resolution.

A Personal Perspective: A theme word is not the same as a resolution. Having a theme for the year is setting an intention rather than a resolution.

Reconciling a New Theory of Laughter With Its Predecessors

New theories of laughter should account for what earlier explanations got right as well as wrong. Mutual Vulnerability Theory integrates well with Superiority and Play theories.

New theories of laughter should account for what earlier explanations got right as well as wrong. Mutual Vulnerability Theory integrates well with Superiority and Play theories.

Can We Compare New and Old Theories of Laughter?

New theories of laughter must account for what earlier explanations got right and wrong. The Mutual Vulnerability Theory meshes well with Incongruity and Tension Relief theories.

New theories of laughter must account for what earlier explanations got right and wrong. The Mutual Vulnerability Theory meshes well with Incongruity and Tension Relief theories.

The Importance of Humor in Psychedelic Communication

Like psychedelics, humor can change minds. Studies show humor makes speakers sound more credible, and many psychedelic studies are inherently funny.

Like psychedelics, humor can change minds. Studies show humor makes speakers sound more credible, and many psychedelic studies are inherently funny.

Life Doesn’t Make Sense

We are meaning-seeking creatures. Yet our desire for understanding is often stifled. This awakens us to the painful absurdity of existence. Candor and humor can help.

We are meaning-seeking creatures. Yet our desire for understanding is often stifled. This awakens us to the painful absurdity of existence. Candor and humor can help.

When You Misinterpret the Laughter of Others

We’ve long known that laughter has a dual nature, often sympathetic but sometimes sardonic. A new theory explains why it’s easy to misidentify which motivation is being expressed.

We’ve long known that laughter has a dual nature, often sympathetic but sometimes sardonic. A new theory explains why it’s easy to misidentify which motivation is being expressed.