Humor Theories

Humor theories

Introduction

Humor has manifested itself in very varied ways throughout history, which is why several theories have developed. Next, four types of theories about humor are going to be seen:

The theory of superiority

It is very common for people to laugh at the misfortunes of others. This happens because we feel superior. The truth is that it seems more typical of young children, children laugh when another falls or when they do not know how to pronounce a word well … however, this happens to both young children and adults. Often adults tend to gossip and criticize another person and laugh at their misfortune, usually behind them. Some theorists conceive laughter, and therefore, humor, such as: laughter is an aggressive instinct that shoots when we observe errors, deformities, vices or unfortunates others. Another very common example is to laugh at the videos in which people fall funny.

Developing

This theory has its origin in Aristotle and Plato, but the most relevant author is Thomas Hobbes, who defined this theory how: we laugh when we feel suddenly superior to another person, social group or ourselves in the past in the past. There is another example of seeing the theory of superiority, not only feeling superior to another person, but also feeling superior to the words, absurd games … (an example because the memes) of which you laugh at them.

This theory presents a pessimistic vision of man which is not entirely true, since we not only laugh when we feel superior.

There are times that we really feel bad when someone falls and we don’t laugh. Also, there are moments that we feel superior and we do not laugh, but we feel joy. An example would be when a player scores a goal. He feels superior, but he doesn’t laugh, he just feels joy.

Theory of incongruity

It is the most common theory, it is said: we laugh when observing 2 or more opposite or incompatible elements that have been united or combined in incorrect ways. A very good example would be Alicia in Wonderland in which the absurd is mocked what is the story. A deck of cards with court servants is incorrectly combined. Which, obviously, it has been created Aposta and that is why we laugh, since it is absurd.

This theory is nothing more than absurd combinations. Of course, it is not only of characters, it can also be of material things, words, actions … if it is true that, despite the absurd, the stories have some realism. Putting the previous example, although it is a fantasy, there is a story behind that is real, it is what is called appropriate incongruity.

However, the theory of incongruity does not explain how the theory of superiority fits, since it is true that sometimes we laugh at the misfortunes of others.

Game theory

The word game itself already indicates that it is something funny, since the jokes are only words games. In addition the English word Joke (joke) comes from the word jocus (Latin game).

conclusion

In this school, authors such as James Sully or William Fry stand out which gave a definition for this theory: humor is important, since it helps us to face the problems, failures or disappointments of life, freeing us from the serious aspect and allowing us to see the sidepositive of any misfortune. The authors of this theory intend to perceive humor as a method of transformation of serious things into something comical of what we can laugh.