Essential attributes of a comprehensive theory of laughter
Essential attributes of a comprehensive theory of laughter
Author(s): John Charles SimonSubject(s): Anthropology, Social Sciences, Psychology, Applied Linguistics, Sociology, Sociolinguistics, Descriptive linguistics, Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology, Behaviorism
Published by: Krakowskie Towarzystwo Popularyzowania Wiedzy o Komunikacji Językowej Tertium
Keywords: humour; amusement; laughter theory
Summary/Abstract: In principle, humour studies would be significantly enhanced by a comprehensive understanding of laughter and amusement. Members of various scientific disciplines, however, often approach laughter from distinct, rather narrow, experimental or observational paradigms, and rarely make direct challenges to broader theories that are generally accepted as incomplete, but also difficult to falsify. Evaluating, comparing, and ranking such theories is possible, however, using the concept of explanatory scope. To better establish the range of questions a comprehensive theory of laughter must resolve, I reviewed 525 peer-reviewed journal articles and recorded a total of 852 topics addressed by the authors. These were categorized into 29 themes. The list provided should allow scholars to more effectively assess the strengths and weaknesses of existing laughter theories and help guide future endeavours to more fully understand this important behaviour.
Journal: The European Journal of Humour Research
- Issue Year: 8/2020
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 45-54
- Page Count: 10
- Language: English
