What is Humour? Its Benefits, Social insights and 10 Kinds of Humour…

Humour is a complex and subjective aspect of human communication and interaction that elicits laughter and amusement. It involves creating or recognizing something that is funny, often through wordplay, unexpected situations, incongruity, irony, or absurdity. Humour completes various purposes, including entertainment, stress relief, social bonding, and conveying ideas in a light-hearted or memorable way.

One significant way humour helps in bonding with another human being is by creating a shared experience. When people laugh together, it creates a sense of connection, mutual understanding, and positive emotion. Shared laughter can break down barriers, ease tension, and foster a sense of camaraderie.

Research on humour has expanded as a multidisciplinary field that spans psychology, neuroscience, sociology, and communication studies. Here are some key findings about humour and its benefits:

Positive Effects on Health and Well-being:

Humour has been linked to various health benefits, including reduced stress, improved mood, and enhanced immune function. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.

Social Bonding:

Shared laughter and humour play a significant role in building and strengthening social bonds. People often use humour as a way to connect with others, break the ice, and foster a sense of camaraderie.

Coping Mechanism:

Humour can serve as an effective coping mechanism in dealing with stress and adversity. It allows individuals to reframe challenging situations in a more lighthearted or manageable way.

Enhanced Communication:

Humour can make communication more engaging and memorable. It can be used to convey complex ideas, soften criticism, or navigate sensitive topics.

Enhanced Creativity:

Humour often involves making unexpected connections and thinking outside the box, which can stimulate creative thinking.

Cultural Differences:

Different cultures have distinct senses of humour, and what is considered funny can vary widely. Understanding cultural humour norms is crucial for effective cross-cultural communication.

Gender Differences:

Research has shown that men and women tend to have different humour preferences and use humour for different purposes. Men often engage in more aggressive humour, while women may use self-deprecating humour.

Humour Styles:

Psychologists have identified four primary humour styles:

• Affiliative: Using humour to enhance social bonds and build relationships.
• Self-Enhancing: Using humour to cope with stress and maintain a positive outlook.
• Aggressive: Using humour to ridicule or belittle others.
• Self-Defeating: Using self-deprecating humour to seek approval or deflect criticism.

Humour in the Workplace:

Humour can improve workplace morale, enhance teamwork, and foster a more positive work environment. However, inappropriate or offensive humour can have negative effects.

Education and Learning:

Humour can aid in education by making lessons more engaging and memorable. It can also help with information retention and comprehension.

Creativity and Problem-Solving:

Humour can encourage flexible thinking and innovation. People who engage in playful thinking are often more open to exploring new ideas.

Neurological Mechanisms:

Neuroscientific research has shown that humour activates various brain regions, including those associated with reward, emotion, and social processing.

Effects on Persuasion:

Humour can enhance persuasion by making messages more relatable and increasing likability. However, the effectiveness of humour in persuasion depends on factors like audience, context, and the type of humour used.

Timing and Context:

The success of humour often depends on timing and appropriateness. Humour that is well-timed and matches the context is more likely to be effective.

Overall, humours underscore its multifaceted nature to impact on various aspects of human life. Humour is a powerful tool for social bonding, communication, and well-being, but its effects can be influenced by individual differences, cultural factors, and the context in which it is used.

Here is a TEDx video of Andrew Tarvin who speaks on how everyone can use humour. Andrew Tarvin is the world’s first Humour Engineer teaching people how to get better results while having more fun. He has worked with thousands of people at 200+ organizations, including P&G, GE, and Microsoft. Combining his background as a project manager at Procter & Gamble with his experience as an international comedian, Andrew’s program are engaging, entertaining, and most important, effective

There are several recognized kinds of humour or comedic styles:

1. Observational Humour:

This type of humour involves pointing out the entertaining aspects of everyday life and situations that many people can relate to. Comedians like Jerry Seinfeld often use observational humour.

2. Sarcasm and Irony:

These involve saying the opposite of what is meant or using words to convey a different meaning, often leading to amusing contradictions.

3. Slapstick:

Physical comedy that relies on exaggerated actions, accidents, and physical mishaps to create laughter. Classic comedians like Charlie Chaplin and The Three Stooges are known for slapstick humour.

4. Wordplay and Puns:

These involve playing with words, often by using multiple meanings, similar sounds, or unexpected connections between words. Puns are a classic example of this type of humour.

5. Satire:

Humour that uses exaggeration, ridicule, or irony to criticize and comment on social, political, or cultural issues. Satire often seeks to provoke thought and expose flaws.

6. Absurdism:

Embracing the irrational and illogical to create humour. Surreal or absurd situations that defy logic can lead to laughter.

7. Parody and Spoof:

Creating humorous imitations or exaggerated versions of well-known people, works, or genres. Parodies often mimic the style of the original while exaggerating its characteristics for comedic effect.

8. Self-Deprecation:

Making fun of oneself in a lighthearted way, which can be endearing and relatable.

9. Dark Humour:

Addressing sensitive or taboo subjects in a comedic manner. It often involves finding humour in situations that are morbid or tragic.

10. Social Humour:

Focusing on social interactions, stereotypes, and cultural norms. Comedians like Margaret Cho and Aziz Ansari often touch on social themes in their humour.

Different people have different preferences for the type of humour they enjoy, and cultural context can also play a role in what is considered funny. Overall, humour plays a crucial role in human interaction by fostering connection, easing tension, and bringing joy to our lives.