Skip to main content

Teaching Reflection: What is Humor?

 Do You Have a Sense of Humour (Humor)? - David Barrett 

It has been a whole semester in the making, but after learning an incredible amount on this very subject throughout this spring term I am finally ready to tackle this question...

So, what is humor? 

Humor does not equal laughter (which for some reason is the number one thing from Dr. Hubbard's lectures that pops up in my brain when the topic of humor is brought up, haha). It is, as I like to describe it in the simplest of terms, a capacity to perceive or express what is funny. 

There are four different functions that humor serves in communication: identification, enforcement, clarification, and differentiation. There are three different theories of humor: relief, incongruity, and superiority. These functions and theories serve as a mechanism to better describe and analyze the role that humor has in our lives and the instances in which it is used/found.

Humor is a language that practically everyone can understand. Humor plays a large role in effective communication by allowing people to build connections and trust with one another. It also plays a role in diffusing tension and breaking down barriers.

Humor, like any form of communication, has its dangers. From being used as a tool to cope in an unhealthy manner to self-deprecation, humor can be used in a negative manner to create division or to possibly harm and stereotype others.

The importance of humor and its role in everyday life cannot be measured.

I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about humor this semester and I feel as though I have a better understanding and overall appreciation for the importance of humor and its role in communication.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Real World Reflection: Grace Adler's Humorous Workplace

I have been binge (re)watching one of my favorite shows of all-time , Will & Grace , this past week and after our recent unit on workplace humor I could not help but notice how humorous Grace Adler's workplace is. For those who have not watched Will & Grace, one of the main characters, Grace Adler, is an interior designer that owns a design business/studio in NYC. Grace's one singular employee is Karen Walker, an incredibly wealthy (and incredibly lazy) wife of a multi-millionaire who only works as an excuse to not have to deal with her stepchildren. The humorous interactions that occur throughout the series in Grace's studio/place of work are a great example of humor in the workplace as well as humor between employees and employers. The dynamics between the two characters and their vastly different personalities as well as their work ethics (Karen's is basically non-existent, haha!) are a central point of humor in the show. The humor that the two utilize whil...
Post a Comment
Read more

Personal Reflection: Humor as a Coping Mechanism and a Tool to Heal

 This week's discussion post is my inspiration for this personal reflection! One of the prompts for the discussion this week that intrigued me is:   Explore the psychological implications of humor, including its role as a coping mechanism for stress and adversity. Discuss the potential dangers of using humor as a defense mechanism and strategies for promoting mental well-being through communication. As well as Dr. Hubbard's awesome response question:  How do you think social support groups (like AA or support for those who have lost, etc) can use humor in their meetings in a good way to still show they care and not just act like it is a joking manner?     This topic and these questions are so incredibly personal and special to me because, A.) it is the subject of my research paper and most importantly, B.) because it is and has been a very real part of what has gotten me through the grief that I carry and the roller coaster of emotions I have ridden trying t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Teaching Reflection: The Dangers of Humor

It is hard to think of humor as being a bad thing because it is thought of as an inherently positive tool to communicate and connect with others, right? Well, the truth is that despite all of the wonderful things humor does do, there are definitely some dangers and pitfalls. The following are a list of the dangers of humor: - Humor can be used as an unhealthy mechanism to cope. While humor does have the ability to aid in the healing process (I can personally attest to this and am studying this for my final project), it definitely has the ability to be used as an unhealthy crutch. Instead of seeking actual help for whatever may be causing conflict in one's life, many will utilize humor as a way to hide or disguise how they actually feel and will use it as a mask to make others believe that they are okay, when, in reality, they are struggling and need help.  - Humor can serve as an aggressor towards other people. Disparaging comments, insults, and teasing, can lend to creating uncomf...
Post a Comment
Read more