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Maslow, A. Toward a Psychology of Being. Mindess, H. New York, NY: Avon.? Mintz, L. McGhee and J. Moran, C. The idea is that humor evolved from this constant process of confirmation: people derive amusement from finding discrepancies between expectations and reality when the discrepancies are harmless, and this pleasure keeps us looking for such discrepancies.

It is a sign that elevates our social status and allows us to attract reproductive partners. In other words, a joke is to the sense of humor what a cannoli loaded with fat and sugar is to the sense of taste.

And because grasping the incongruities requires a store of knowledge and beliefs, shared laughter signals a commonality of worldviews, preferences and convictions, which reinforces social ties and the sense of belonging to the same group.

As Hurly told psychologist Jarrett in , the theory goes beyond predicting what makes people laugh. And yet, as Greengross noted in a review of Inside Jokes, even this theory is incomplete.

Other questions remain. For instance, how can the sometimes opposite functions of humor, such as promoting social bonding and excluding others with derision, be reconciled? And when laughter enhances feelings of social connectedness, is that effect a fundamental function of the laughter or a mere by-product of some other primary role much as eating with people has undeniable social value even though eating is primarily motivated by the need for nourishment?

There is much evidence for a fundamental function. Robert Provine of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, showed in Current Directions in Psychological Science, for example, that individuals laugh 30 times more in the company of others than they do alone.

In his research, he and his students surreptitiously observed spontaneous laughter as people went about their business in settings ranging from the student union to shopping malls. Moreover, humor does not always make us laugh. In one view, knowing how to be funny is a sign of a healthy brain and of good genes, and consequently it attracts partners. Researchers have found that men are more likely to be funny and women are more likely to appreciate a good sense of humor, which is to say that men compete for attention and women do the choosing.

But views, of course, differ on this point. Even the validity of seeking a unified theory of humor is debated. In fact, I always refer to it by describing it, never by defining it.

Still, certain commonalities are now accepted by almost all scholars who study humor. One, Forabosco notes, is a cognitive element: perception of incongruity. To my mind, for example, the incongruity needs to be relieved without being totally resolved; it must remain ambiguous, something strange that is never fully explained.

Other cognitive and psychological elements can also provide some punch. These, Forabosco says, include features such as aggression, sexuality, sadism and cynicism. Laughing, Tickling, and the Evolution of Speech and Self. Robert R. Peter McGraw et al. What did the microwave say to the other microwave? Is it just me? Or is it really hot in here? Why did the student eat his homework? Because the teacher told him it was a piece of cake!

When you look for something, why is it always in the last place you look? Because when you find it, you stop looking. What is brown, hairy and wears sunglasses?

A coconut on vacation. Two pickles fell out of a jar onto the floor. What did one say to the other? Dill with it. What did the Dalmatian say after lunch? That hit the spot! Why did the kid cross the playground? To get to the other slide. How does a vampire start a letter? Tomb it may concern What do you call a droid that takes the long way around?

R2 detour. You rocket! When the punchline is a parent. How do you make a lemon drop? Just let it fall. What did the limestone say to the geologist? A wise quacker. Why does a seagull fly over the sea? Because if it flew over the bay, it would be a baygull. What kind of water cannot freeze? Hot water. What kind of tree fits in your hand?

A palm tree! Why did the cookie go to the hospital? Because he felt crummy. Why was the baby strawberry crying? Because her parents were in a jam. What did the little corn say to the mama corn?

Where is pop corn? What is worse than raining cats and dogs? Hailing taxis! How much does it cost a pirate to get his ears pierced?

About a buck an ear. Where would you find an elephant? The same place you lost her! How do you talk to a giant? Use big words! What animal is always at a baseball game?

A bat. What falls in winter but never gets hurt? His ghoul-friend. What building in New York has the most stories? The public library! What did one volcano say to the other? I lava you! How do we know that the ocean is friendly? It waves! How does the moon cut his hair? Eclipse it. How do you get a squirrel to like you?

Act like a nut! What do you call two birds in love? How does a scientist freshen her breath? With experi-mints! How are false teeth like stars? They come out at night!

How can you tell a vampire has a cold? She starts coffin. Finding half a worm. What is a computer's favorite snack? Computer chips!! They do, just not in public. What was the first animal in space? The cow that jumped over the moon. What did the banana say to the dog? What time is it when the clock strikes 13? Time to get a new clock. How does a cucumber become a pickle? It goes through a jarring experience. A stick. What do you think of that new diner on the moon?

Why did the dinosaur cross the road? Because she will let it go. How do you make an octopus laugh? With ten-tickles! How do you make a tissue dance? You put a little boogie in it. What's green and can fly? Super Pickle! Knock knock. Interrupting pirate. Interrupting pir — yarrrrrr! What did the nose say to the finger? Quit picking on me! What musical instrument is found in the bathroom? A tuba toothpaste. Why did the kid bring a ladder to school? Because she wanted to go to high school. Why did the dinosaur cross the road?

Because chickens hadn't evolved yet! Why did the boy take his dog to a watchmaker? It had ticks! Why did the girl eat coins? It was her lunch money! Why did the boy sprinkle sugar on his pillows? He wanted to have sweet dreams! Why did Gran put wheels on her rocking chair? So she could rock 'n' roll! Why did the bee get married? He found his honey! Why did the teacher go to the beach? To test the water! Why did the ghost go to the theatre? To see a phantomime! Why did the bee hum?

It didn't know the words! Why did the echo get detention? For answering back! Why did the vampire brush his teeth? He had bat breath! Why did the spider buy a car?

He wanted to go for a spin! Why did Mickey Mouse fall over? He had a Disney spell! Why did the weightlifter eat bricks? To build himself up! Why did the horse sneeze? Hay fever! Why did the elephant quit the circus? He was being paid peanuts! Why did the teacher write on the window? So the lesson was clear! Why did the T-rex eat raw meat? Because its itty-bitty arms couldn't work the oven! Why did the musician keep her trumpet in the fridge? She liked cool music! Why did the Easter egg hide?

It was a little chicken! Why did the chicken cross the playground? To get to the other slide! Why did the bird fly into the library? Because he was looking for bookworms!