Humor is an important and common type of communication. It is important to gain an understanding of what humor is and the psychology of humor.
How do we define humor? Below is one possible definition of humor:
Humor Definition:
Humor is a form of communication that is judged to be amusing and makes others laugh.
What is considered funny or amusing? This is a subjective judgment. There may be many different types of communication that are considered amusing, and it may be difficult to determine what exactly makes a communication amusing. Nonetheless, a message may be amusing if it is (a) original, (b) surprising, and (c) ironic.
Thus, in learning how to be funny, humorous, or witty, it may be important to keep in mind that it may be a good idea to present a message that is original, surprising, and ironic.
Psychology of Humor:
One important topic is the psychology of humor. There may be a number of positive effects or benefits of laugther and humor. Thus, it is important to learn about humor research findings. This page contains articles with research findings concerning humor.