The First Joke

Exploring the Evolutionary Origins of Humor

Bibliographic Data

ID5801588
AuthorsJoseph Polimeni (University of Manitoba), Jeffrey P Reis, Jeffrey P Reiss (University of Manitoba)
Year2006
Volume4
Issue1
Publication date2006-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEvolutionary Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1474-7049 • E-ISSN: 1474-7049
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/147470490600400129
OpenAlexW2127874711
LanguageEN
Citations received31
References cited57

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

Bonobo · Ethology · Evolutionary psychology · Humor research · Joke · Laughter · Relevance · Comics and Graphic Narratives · Humor Studies and Applications · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition

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Open DOISci-HubOpen Access