What’s the point of humor?

A sense of humor is learned very early. From the age of 4 months, children have fun making imitations to make them laugh. In adulthood, the sense of humor evolves and becomes much more complex.

Are there several humours?

Gradually, with the learning of social relationships and emotions, the child, then the adolescent and the adult, is able to develop different styles of humor useful according to the situations.

Psychologists first of all distinguish adaptive humor which makes it possible to adapt to others, and above all to demonstrate self-mockery. It strengthens social ties and helps to integrate into the group.

Non-adaptive humor, on the contrary, makes it possible to laugh at the expense of others through stereotypical or stigmatizing jokes. It manifests itself in a defense situation and allows you to distance others that you find dangerous or threatening.

Does humor help us to something other than laughing?

Humor not only helps to have a good time, it also helps to overcome anxiety and improve morale. Refusing to take yourself seriously allows you to endure the difficulties of everyday life by taking care of others.

Knowing how to handle humor from an early age makes it possible to play down certain situations without getting caught in the vicious circle of negative thoughts. The mental operation necessary to formulate and understand a joke requires taking enough perspective on oneself or on the situation to perceive its funny nature.

Humor is therefore a mark of joie de vivre and good management of emotions and cognitive abilities. Let us not forget either its therapeutic virtues which can help to get better.

Find out more: “Laughter is a wonderful therapy!” by Christian Tal Schaller and Corinne Cosseron, Lanore editions.

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