Part 1: Essence of Humor: What Makes Something Funny?
Section 1: Psychological Processes: Why Do People Find Things Humorous?
1 Psychological Approaches to Humor: The Interaction of Cognition and Motivation
Abstract
The question, “What makes something funny?” has intrigued scholars from multiple disciplines dating back to the classical Greek philosophers. Psychologists historically have sought to describe the essential psychological processes underlying the experience of humor. Early theories emphasized the importance of one’s motivation to relieve tension or to maintain self-esteem. However, with the ‘cognitive revolution’ of the 1960s, psychologists began to focus on how people cognitively process ...
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