How many psychologists does it take to explain a joke?

Well quite a few actually, which leads to the conclusion that if you have to explain it, you don’t really get it. Many have tried to capture the essence of “funniness”.  Aristotle claimed it is a derogatory device for expressing one’s superiority over others or groups and Freud claimed it releases nervous sexual tension. One thing is for sure, humour is present across all human cultures.

One of the most popular theories as to what makes a joke funny is the recognition of an incongruity followed by its resolution. For example: Two cup cakes in the oven and one says to the other “uff it’s hot in here” and the other replies “Oh my god, a talking cup cake!!” First we set up a hypothetical fictitious world where indeed cupcakes talk, we may even feel sympathy for the poor cupcake, but this illusion is finally shattered by the punch line as we are reminded of the reality that cupcakes can’t talk.

At a neurological level, jokes seem to act on different parts of our brain, as the joke is being told and we are resolving ambiguity, our left inferior frontal and temporal cortices are stimulated, this could be considered as joke detection. Then once the punch line has been analysed this then activates the reward system in the nucleus accumbens, which of course is why we find jokes so pleasurable.

Humour could be considered as a mental erogenous zone and plays an important role in the mating game. In surveys it has been shown that a sense of humour and ability to make other people laugh is considered attractive for both men and women in evaluating a potential partner. Alas I’ve never been very good at telling jokes so would have difficulty in France where studies have shown that women were three times more likely to share their phone number with men who they had just heard tell a funny joke, oh la la!

Based on an article by Christian Jarret in “the Psychologist” vol 26 Nº 4  

Observation by George Carlin

This Observation by George Carlin so impressed me that I had to reproduce it here.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.

George Carlin