What Makes This Joke Funny

In this paper we will discuss two theories of humor and comedy, the incongruity theory and the relief theory. These theories have their own explanations of what makes something funny and why we laugh as well as their own strengths and weaknesses.

The incongruity theory is the most influential theory of humor and it is widely held among scholars and academics since the 18th century. says that “humor is a response to incongruity that is, the contrast between two radically disparate elements of expression”.

There are two main types of incongruity, they are descending and ascending. It is known that descending incongruity is the type of incongruity that is more likely to produce humor. Absurdity is another key word in the incongruity theory. Mainly because this is also a key element of humor that is ignored in the superiority theory.

The amount of incongruity in a joke has the power to make it more humorous. Sudden unexpected glory can be found funny because it is incongruous to our initial expectations.

In this case there is a contrast between the original low expectations that we had in the beginning versus the sudden elevation. There is incongruity in tickling. Tickling is seen as an aggressive attack on a person that is simultaneously not aggressive.

Examples:  “Not only is there no god, try getting a plumber on the weekends”, “Two hunters”,  “Hell’s Grannies”  Sherlock Tent Advantages:  Doesn’t require egoistic, sadistic explanation of humor like the superiority theory does.  This theory allows a mature, emotionally balanced person have a sense of humor whereas in the superiority theory only mentally unstable sadistic people can have a sense of humor.

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This theory states that humor is a response to absurdity whereas in the superiority theory humor is a response to seeing someone else being humiliated.  Explains why suddenness enhances humor.

Incongruity lets you laugh at yourself whereas the superiority theory you can’t laugh at yourself in the present tense because you cannot be superior to yourself. Incongruity is just as funny even if it happens to yourself. The biggest advantage is that the incongruity theory explains a much wider range of humor, this includes dirty jokes, ethnic jokes, puns and word play. With dirty jokes we find humor in the contrast between our rational ideal human selves versus the animal sex drive that is almost taboo and not many like to talk about especially in a public setting. o With ethnic jokes a good joke must be one where we can sympathize with the stupid person in the joke. Solar-powered flashlight joke o With puns and word play it is the contrast between the rational way we use language versus the use of language in a childlike play.

Weaknesses: Some say that the incongruity theory is too intellectual.  Shouldn’t all types of incongruity be funny not just descending. Incongruity appears in many other genres, but it isn’t always funny. The incongruity can only be found funny when it is in a safe context and there is no threat. Most incongruity is not funny even in safe context

Example: cracked pavement, misspelling of a word.  There is too much vagueness and elasticity of the word incongruity itself. The relief theory is also known as the release theory or the discharge theory of humor. The Relief Theory has two distinct versions.

The Physiological Theory: humor is an outlet for a buildup of excess nervous energy. Explanation takes place at the level of bodily mechanism.

The Psychological Theory: humor is a feeling of pleasure at liberation from restraints.

Explanation takes place at the mental level.

Sigmund Freud: the most famous version of the Relief Theory says that humor is a response to a sudden relief from tension or restraint. In the relief theory it is said that laughter is our body’s way of suddenly releasing nervous energy when it is no longer needed to be held back.

This provides us with comic relief

Explains hostile jokes without needing to assume that human nature is essentially malicious, nasty and mean (SL19) Another form of Relief Theory of the psychological type is the Play Theory of humor. o Some think this is an independent theory, different from the Relief Theory. o Humor is a form of play.

Play as a release or relief from ordinary demands and expectations. Tickling o Relief from threat of aggression /danger that you thought you were in since your brain sees it as an attack but then you are relieved that it is a harmless attack and you laugh because you are relieved that you are not in any real danger.

Peekaboo. Relief from the threat of disappearance o Babies laugh when they see your face reappear and their laughter is a form of relief once they see your face again and they know that you did not go anywhere.  The relief theory helps us get a better understanding the laugh of triumph.

A laughter of sudden relief from strain. Goal is accomplished so there is no more straining and stressing yourself out to achieve the goal. This theory also explains why we as human laugh when we are nervous. By laughing we are releasing the built-up energy that needs to be released o In some cases, incongruity allows us to feel relaxed and liberated from restraints like the relief theory does.

For example, an authority figure slipping on a banana peel and falls on the floor. The incongruity of someone from such a high ranking looking foolish puts the tension in the room at ease and lets us relax.

Examples: Little bit of luck song Advantages: The biggest advantage that the relief theory has over the incongruity theory is that it basically fills in all if the gaps of the incongruity theory. Avoids the excess intellectualism that the incongruity theory has. The relief theory is an affective theory not intellectual

There is liberation from restraints not intellectual recognition of an incongruity. Explains why dirty jokes and ethnic jokes so popular o Liberation from societal rules// breaking the taboo. Puns and word play are better explained with the relief theory. Liberation from restraints of logic, meaning and grammar. Explains why laughter is social (SL 26) Weaknesses: The Relief Theory does not seem able to explain the key concept of absurdity or incongruity. Doesn’t explain why suddenness is associated with humor. the relief theory is insufficient to explain what is unique about humor, that distinguishes it from other forms of relief or relaxation. Which theory successfully explains all or most humor (or no theory at all)?

In conclusion although I believe that no theory successfully explains all humor, I think that the incongruity theory explains a good chunk of why we laugh and find things humorous. The incongruity theory is easy to understand and since the relief theory fills in the gaps of the incongruity theory, the incongruity theory should be considered the lead theory whereas the relief theory is seen as the backup explanation when you cannot find a way to explain laughter and humor with the incongruity theory.

After all the incongruity theory has been the most influential and has been around since the 18th century and people still refer to this theory to this day. The biggest advantage is that the incongruity theory explains a much wider range of humor, this includes dirty jokes, ethnic jokes, puns and word play. The incongruity theory explains why suddenness enhances the humor found in a situation whereas the relief theory fails to explain how important the suddenness aspect is to a joke.