Psychology of humor

Humor is defined as “the tendency of particular cognitive responses to provoke laughter, physical reaction, and provide amusement.” Humor is experienced across all ages and cultures. Humor has been shown to improve and help the aging process in three areas. The areas are improving physical health, improving social communications, and helping to achieve a sense of satisfaction in life.

Rod Martin’s book about psychology of humor shows that humor is a serious subject of study, and humor researchers should not be taken lightly. Rod Martin, a psychologist at the University of Western Ontario who studies the way people use humor. Being funny isn't necessarily an indicator of good social skills and well-being, his research has shown—it may just as likely be a sign of personality flaws. He has found that humor is a double-edged sword. It can forge better relationships and help you cope with life, or it can be corrosive, eating away at self-esteem and antagonizing others. According,  Martin "It's a form of communication, like speech, and we all use it differently". Though humor is essentially social, how you use it says a lot about your sense of self.

 I want to present 4  types of humor, in which you can find yourself. First type of humor is Put-Down humor. This aggressive type of humor is used to criticize and manipulate others through teasing, sarcasm and ridicule. Put-down humor, such as telling friends an embarrassing story about another friend, is a socially acceptable way to deploy aggression and make others look bad so you look good. When challenged on their teasing, the put-down joker often turns to the "just kidding" defense, allowing the aggressor to avoid responsibility even as the barb bites. Martin has found no evidence that those who rely on this type of humor are any less well-adjusted. But it does take a toll on personal relationships. Second type of humor is Bonding Humor. People who use bonding humor are fun to have around; they say amusing things, tell jokes, engage in witty banter and generally lighten the mood. These are the people who give humor a good name. They're perceived as warm, down-to-earth and  kind, good at reducing the tension in uncomfortable situations and able to laugh at their own faults. Third type of humor is Hate-Me humor. In this style of humor, you are the butt of the joke for the amusement of others. It is like to be a clown. A small dose of it is charming, but a little goes a long way: Routinely offering yourself up to be humiliated erodes your self-respect, fostering depression and anxiety. For example, Farley, who died at age 33 from an overdose, had  a streak of self-loathing. "Chris chose the immediate pleasure he got in pleasing others over  the long-term cost to himself," his brother wrote after his death. The bottom line: Excelling at this style of  humor may lead to party invitations but can ultimately exact a high price. The last type of humor is Laughing At Life. When we admire someone who "doesn't take himself too seriously," this is the temperament we're talking about. More than just a way of relating to other people, it's a prism that colors the world in rosier shades. Someone with this outlook deploys humor to cope with challenges, taking a step back and laughing at the absurdities of everyday life. The columnist Dave Barry has perfected it with quips like this: "Fishing is boring, unless you catch an actual fish, and then it is disgusting."

In conclusion, I want to say that what I had read  made me interested in psychology of humor. I have never believed that  certain type of humor  can show  what  person  is in public and how he feels in real.

References : http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200606/whats-your-humor-style

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humor_%28positive_psychology%29

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