[Baz]

Humor research has been handicapped by the lines of approached applied
by thinkers from antiquity to the present day. The main one being,
using the word "humor" on a neurological level when it is merely a
construct that has a vague, general meaning only applicable in
cultural intercourse.

I have posted an essay on a Google Page: Laughing and crying as
displacement activities: the implications for humor theory.

Go to the site below, scroll down until you see the elephant and blind
men, and click on "A new theory of humor".

Academic on HumorLinks

I have attempted to show that viewing laughter as a displacement
activity (defined in the essay) and explaining why it is confusing to
use the term humor in certain contexts, answers the major problems
encountered by humor researchers.

I think you will enjoy the read. Tell me what you think.

Basil

[InfiniteNow]

I've always seen it as a fundamental part of a socially grouped society. We have very complex and intricate social bonds which allow us to move forward successfully, while simultaneously leveraging others to increase the reproductive viability of ourselves and our offspring.

So, you're in a group with an alpha. Sure is nice if you can make them laugh and forget about any real or imagined transgressions.

You're in a difficult situation and the morale is low. You make the group laugh and suddenely they all like you more, and are more willing to share their (already limited) resources with you.

There are countless examples along this line of reasoning, but overall, I see the biggest reasons as social, while some supplemental reasons being our need to increase pleasure.