What is humor? 4 theories about its function

Since the beginning of Western philosophy, humor has been one of the fundamental themes for different thinkers. However, the term "humor" was not used in the sense that we use it now.

Previously it was part of the theories that explained the different personalities and character models and even the fluids of the body. It was until the 18th century, with the development of modern science, that the term "humor" changed its meaning and began to be associated with the experimentation of funny, or rather, began to indicate the quality of being funny or funny.

We'll see now some theories that have explained humor in philosophy and psychology over time.

• Related article: "The use of irony and humor in psychotherapy"

Theories about what humor is

Surely when we think of the word "humor", words such as "laughter", "comedy", "clowns", "theater", "joke", "smile", among other concepts associated with fun, come to mind.

If they asked us what is humor? we could surely define this word as a state of mind; a quality of joviality and grace; a willingness to do something (eg. "I'm not in the mood"); or, a personality attribute ("he has a sense of humor").

However, the latter has not always been the case. With the constant development of philosophy and science we have gone through different understandings about humor, which go from pejorative connotations to healing potentials. Next we will see 4 of the theories that have explained humor over time.

1. Humor as an obstacle to reason

One of the first to use the term "humor" in the context of fun was Henri Bergson in 1890, in a book whose title was Laughter. However, humor studies were not very present in this same period. In fact, From classical philosophy to the beginning of the 20th century, humor had been considered as something negative.

In line with the models of thought that gave predominance of reason over the body and emotions, philosophy Classic and modern saw laughter, comedy, wit, or joke as a way to override self-control and rationality.

Humor was often considered a quality to be avoided, so that the human being would not be defeated and vitiated by laughter. Even both laughter and humor had been linked to the immoral, the malicious or the malevolent.

2. Humor as a sign of superiority

In the 20th century, humor and laughter began to be signs of superiority, that is, they were considered ways of reflecting feelings of greatness about other people, or about a previous state of ourselves themselves. In broad strokes it suggested that, to laugh at something or someone we first have to make a comparison with that someone. Then, look for elements of humor that are a sign of inferiority to the other person or situation.

It is then when laughter is triggered to reaffirm this inferiority and therefore, one's own superiority. An example of this would be cases of harassment or verbal bullying based on a derogatory humor towards the other person. In other words, humor would have psychological components related to self-defense, self-competence, judgments, self esteem, egocentrism, among others.

3. The incongruity theory

Before the rise of the theory of superiority emerges the theory of incongruity. While one said that the cause of laughter was feelings of superiority, the other suggests that it is rather an effect of perceiving something incongruous. For example, something that goes against our values ​​or our mental schemes.

This theory of humor has subsequently generated explanations about "nervous laughter" which is what manifests itself in situations that seem unexpected, awkward, absurd, or even annoying, but occur in a context where we cannot clearly express such sensations. Through humor and laughter we show the incongruity or discomfort that the situation generates in us.

Another example of this could be political humor. Again, given the incongruity of public attitudes, ideas or behaviors of people who hold positions of political representation, it is common to respond through humor, sarcasm, irony, mockery, caricature. In this way, humor has an important political value: it allows us to express our nonconformity in a socially valued way that is easily shared and distributed among different people.

4. Theories of humor as healing and well-being

One of the most representative theories of humor, both in philosophy and in psychology and even physiology, is the theory of well-being, relief or healing. Broadly speaking, it suggests that humor (whose clearest physical / muscular effect is laughter), has effects on the nervous system and allows different levels of tension to be discharged. In other words, humor and laughter have the potential to release stored nerve energy.

Before the theory of superiority, which spoke of not very functional elements for coexistence; this theory that humor also has important components in adaptive terms.

Among other things, the latter has been very present in the development of different psychotherapeutic currents. Laughter therapies have even been generated whose uses and applications are very different.