What’s so Funny? the science of why we laugh: Psychologists, neuroscientists and philosophers are trying to understand humor.
Researchers do not fully understand which aspects of a joke or situation make it seem funny.
Various theories have posited that people find amusement in the misfortunes of others, in expressions of otherwise forbidden emotions, in juxtaposition of incompatible concepts and in realizing that certain expectations have been violated.
One scheme weaves several hypotheses together: it holds that humor results when a person simultaneously recognizes both that a norm has been breached and that the breach is benign.
Laughter may have evolved as a way to enhance connectedness in societies.
