Why people find 'immoral behaviour' funny
Psychological scientists who turned their eye to humour claim they've come up with a formula which explains how immoral behaviour can be funny.The boffins from the University of Colorado-Boulder say it is all to do with how a violation or threat to the way the world ought to be, can also being benign.
They tested their hypothesis by presenting various situations to volunteers including ones like a firm hiring a rabbi as spokesman for their new line of pork products.
It was found people tended to find situations "seen as wrong" as also being funny. But that this increased when people were not connected with the subject.
People found jokes the funniest when the moral violation seemed benign to them… though the researchers jokes could do with a bit of work.
Researcher Peter McGraw said this rule also applies to humorous slapstick: "We laugh when Moe hits Larry because we know that Larry's not really being hurt.
"It's a violation of social norms. You don't hit people, especially a friend. But it's okay because it's not real."
LINKS
University of Colorado-Boulder
Association for Psychological Science
"It's a violation of social norms. You don't hit people, especially a friend. But it's okay because it's not real."
LINKS
University of Colorado-Boulder
Association for Psychological Science
