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The First Joke: Exploring the Evolutionary Origins of Humor
| Content Provider | SAGE Publishing |
|---|---|
| Author | Polimeni, Joseph Reiss, Jeffrey P. |
| Copyright Year | 2006 |
| Abstract | Humor is a complex cognitive function which often leads to laughter. Contemporary humor theorists have begun to formulate hypotheses outlining the possible innate cognitive structures underlying humor. Humor's conspicuous presence in the behavioral repertoire of humankind invites adaptive explanations. This article explores the possible adaptive features of humor and ponders its evolutionary path through hominid history. Current humor theories and previous evolutionary ideas on humor are reviewed. In addition, scientific fields germane to the evolutionary study of humor are examined: animal models, genetics, children's humor, humor in pathological conditions, neurobiology, humor in traditional societies and cognitive archeology. Candidate selection pressures and associated evolutionary mechanisms are considered. The authors conclude that several evolutionary-related topics such as the origins of language, cognition underlying spiritual feelings, hominid group size, and primate teasing could have special relevance to the origins of humor. |
| Related Links | https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/147470490600400129?download=true |
| ISSN | 14747049 |
| Issue Number | 1 |
| Volume Number | 4 |
| Journal | Evolutionary Psychology (EVP) |
| e-ISSN | 14747049 |
| DOI | 10.1177/147470490600400129 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Sage Publications CA |
| Publisher Date | 2006-01-01 |
| Publisher Place | Los Angeles |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Rights Holder | © 2006 SAGE Publications Inc. |
| Subject Keyword | language teasing humor laughter evolution group size |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
| Subject | Behavioral Neuroscience Medicine Social Psychology |
