Humor

Abstract

Humor has been studied from an evolutionary point of view beginning with Darwin. Some evolutionary theorists have regarded humor as a universal emotion. With its distinct affect and expression, humor meets most criteria for having an evolved basis. The expression of laughter has homologues in other primates and, as in children, is observed during tickling and other social play. This chapter proposes a functional theory of laughter that attempts to account for the fitness benefits for recipient and producer of humor. The recipient gains information and practice that are of later utility in social encounters. Alternative functional explanations for humor are reviewed, but these often feature group selection ideas and fail to account for the fitness value for the humorist. Humor appreciation is correlated with health, but mainly because healthy people are less anxious and hence disposed to appreciate jokes.