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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science pp 1–2Cite as

Humor Production

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Synonyms

Comedy; Comical; Funny; Hilarious; Jokes; Silly

Definition

The production of humor leading to laughter and cheerfulness in others.

Introduction

Humor production and appreciation is a human universal and may have evolved as a species typical adaptation in humans (Greengross and Miller 2008). Across the vast majority of cultures, “a good sense of humor” in a partner is listed off among other seemingly more important traits like intelligence and attraction (Bressler et al. 2006). From an evolutionary perspective, we understand that typical attractive features are thought to be indicative of genetic fitness (i.e., lower mutation load) and thus are considered fitness indicators. Taking that idea a step farther, Miller (2001) explains that there are also mentalfitness indicators – honest signals to genetic fitness via behavioral interactions with the environment: intelligence, creativity (including artistic and musical ability), and humor. In order for an individual to...

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References

  • Bressler, E. R., & Balshine, S. (2006). The influence of humor on desirability. Evolution and Human Behavior, 27, 29–39.

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  • Bressler, E. R., Martin, R. A., & Balshine, S. (2006). Production and appreciation of humor as sexually selected traits. Evolution and Human Behavior, 27, 121–130.

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  • Greengross, G., & Miller, G. (2008). Dissing oneself versus dissing rivals: Effects of status, personality, and sex on the short-term and long-term attractiveness of self-deprecating and other-deprecating humor. Evolutionary Psychology, 6(3), 393–408.

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  • Greengross, G., & Miller, G. (2011). Humor ability reveals intelligence, predicts mating success, and is higher in males. Intelligence, 39, 188–192.

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  • Miller, G. F. (2001). The mating mind: How sexual choice shaped the evolution of human nature. New York: Anchor Books.

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  • Yip, J. A., & Martin, R. A. (2006). Sense of humor, emotional intelligence, and social competence. Journal of Research in Personality, 40, 1202–1208.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA

    Rachael Carmen

  2. Dominican College, Orangeburg, NY, USA

    Haley Dillon

Authors
  1. Rachael Carmen
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  2. Haley Dillon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rachael Carmen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, MI, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA

    Gary L Brase

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© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

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Cite this entry

Carmen, R., Dillon, H. (2019). Humor Production. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1888-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1888-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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