Theories on Humor: Made you Laugh!

Discover the science behind laughter with our Theories of Humor worksheet!

Theories on Humor: As you click on each menu, a drop down menu will appear. Choose the best selection to fill in your blank spaces and complete the sentences. Release theory—Humor gives a break from tension. In a horror movie, as a character creeps through a dark house (often idiotically) to follow an eerie noise, he might open a door to find a cat playing with a squeeze toy. The audience laughs in relief. Humor also lets us deal with unpleasant or forbidden issues, such as death and violence. People are often more comfortable laughing at something shocking said by someone else, though they would never say it themselves.Superiority theory—Audience members laugh at those who appear to be more stupid than they judge themselves to be . Slapstick humor, such as seeing a guy slip on a banana peel, often falls into this category. Some comedians exploited this theory by building a routine—or even a persona—around the idea that they were losers who couldn't catch a break. Larry David, David Letterman, and Woody Allen are comedians who have done this, each in his own way.Incongruity theory—People laugh when things that are not normally associated with each other are put together. Many comedy duos, from Laurel and Hardy to David Spade and Chris Farley, feature a thin man and a fat man, a visual contrast. People also laugh when there is a difference between what they expect to happen and what actually occurs. The unpredictability makes them laugh. Children see birds all the time without reaction, but if one flies into their classroom through an open window, they will probably explode in giggles. Age and Laughter For this next activity, match the audience age group with their preferred method of humor. Young children slapstick humor Elementary-school children Puns and simple jokes Teens Jokes about topics that authority figures would consider rebellious Adults Satire; jokes that make fun of society's weaknesses Which is NOT recommended when it comes to telling a joke? Always laugh at your own jokes; laughter is contagious and the audience will laugh more if they hear you laugh first Keep it short; the quicker you tell a joke, the funnier it will be Keep a straight face; this makes any strangeness in the joke seem even stranger because the person telling it doesn't seem to notice it Be specific; the attention in detail will make the joke seem even more real