As if they didn’t have enough to study, scientists are now trying to figure out what makes something funny. One way to do this is to get a computer to create jokes–something a standup comedian (NOTE: Subscribers can still listen to this show) can do easily, but which is an almost impossible task for even the smartest machine.
read more
At least that’s what psychologists say–but only just barely and mostly to other men. The oft-repeated stereotype is than women can’t tell a joke properly, but psychologist Laura Mickes says, "The differences we find between men’s and women’s ability to be funny are so small that they can’t account for the strength of the belief in the stereotype."
The standard explanations for this are usually variations on an evolutionary sexual-selection argument that likens a man’s humor to a peacock’s fancy tail or a deer’s rack of antlers, useful primarily for showing off and impressing potential mates. But if this was the case, the male sense of humor would appeal more to WOMEN.
read more
Richard Wiseman, an English psychologist, has been investigating which jokes people find the funniest. He?s asked for jokes over the internet at Laughlab.co.uk, and has received 10,000 jokes from more than 70 countries.
One of his findings was that men and women think different things are funny. This is the type of joke that was rated highly by women: A man had a dog called Minton. One day Minton ate two shuttlecocks. When the owner found out, he said, ?Bad Minton.?
This kind of joke was rated highly by men: A guy walked in to a psychiatrist?s office wearing underpants made of transparent cling wrap. The psychiatrist said, ?Well, I can clearly see you?re nuts.?
read more