Sonja Heintz

The psychology of humour

Cracking a joke, watching a funny video, and laughing at a mistake are common everyday experiences in people’s lives. Interestingly, psychology has only begun to understand the phenomenon of humour and related concepts such as cheerfulness and playfulness. The present option takes a closer look at current research and applications of humour based on five key questions:

1. What is humour?

2. Who shows and likes which kinds of humour?

3. How does humour develop across the lifespan?

4. What impact can humour have on individuals and relationships?

5. Can humour be fostered?