Humour: A Very Short Introduction

Humour: A Very Short Introduction considers the relation of humour to emotion and cognition, explores the value of humour in its social functions, and examines the leading humour theories including The Superiority Theory and The Incongruity Theory. Humour, known in every human culture, can serve many functions; it can be used to relieve stress, to promote goodwill among strangers, to dissipate tension within a fractious group, and to display intelligence. This VSI argues that humour, and the comic amusement that follows it, has a crucial role to play in the construction of communities. It also demonstrates that the social aspect of humour raises questions such as ‘When is humour immoral?’.