2018•The International Encyclopedia of AnthropologyRequires access
Humor and Laughter
Ewa Wasilewska
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Abstract
Studying laughter is not a laughing matter. Humor is a serious issue for scientific enquiry. However, the origins, evolution, and functions of humor and laughter still remain a mystery to the scholarly world despite hundreds of theories of humor and observational studies of laughter. Although laughter is often a sought response to humor, it does not need humor to be triggered. Humor is a form of play but its success is not necessarily or solely appreciated by laughter. All humans are capable of producing laughter and enjoying humor but these two behaviors might not be unique to humans.