Current Events > How do evolutionary psychologists explain laughter and comedy?

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I don't get how that helps us survive and procreate. If anything it puts us in more danger.

Not like Spiders and Hummingbirds have comedians.

you dont see how socialization could increase survival?

Second result from searching: "psychologists explain laughter and comedy"

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/498281

You could also use ChatGPT

Probably a coping mechanism for stress?
Or a sign that we were finally stable enough to let our guard and have fun?

I'm definitely not an expert this, but I would assume it's fairly easy to see. Humans are an inherently social species. Laughter makes people feel good, it's a sign of good things and shared laughter can draw people together. It raises moods and can even increase productivity.

How does it put us in danger exactly? I doubt our ancestors were cracking jokes while fending off lions or something. Unless they wanted one laugh before they bit it anyways. One last chance to feel good.

Further more, humor and all things funny are basically engraved into people and society, and always have been from what I've seen.

Comedy involves two elements typically: surprise and safety. Laughter signals to other people nearby that the surprise we just experienced is a safe one.

itachi15243 posted...

I'm definitely not an expert this, but I would assume it's fairly easy to see. Humans are an inherently social species. Laughter makes people feel good, it's a sign of good things and shared laughter can draw people together. It raises moods and can even increase productivity.

How does it put us in danger exactly? I doubt our ancestors were cracking jokes while fending off lions or something. Unless they wanted one laugh before they bit it anyways. One last chance to feel good.

Further more, humor and all things funny are basically engraved into people and society, and always have been from what I've seen.

How do people act now? That's how they acted 200,000 years ago. So, yes, I would 100% expect macabre jokes about being eaten by a lion, possibly delivered as someone was getting eaten by a lion.

yall are overthinking it and thinking it has to be an explicit advantage. it doesn't.

traits just have to not get in the way of fitness

you are also underestimating the importance of sexual selection. it's more like humor made certain people more attractive. humor takes intelligence. laughter shows genuine emotion.

it's about building inter-tribal relations, not just telling someone u stubbed ur toe and are okay.

Evo psych isn't a real scientific field.

Laughter is social.
Comedy is social commentary.

CARRRNE_ASADA posted...

Or a sign that we were finally stable enough to let our guard and have fun?

it's probably this

COVxy posted...

Evo psych isn't a real scientific field.

so?

So it doesn't matter what they say anymore than you.

usually by showing people their degree ayoooooooo

Positivity goes a long way in the healing process. Comedy about busty anime girls is sometimes how I shrug off a depressive mood.

DrizztLink posted...

usually by showing people their degree ayoooooooo

ouch