A Case of the Funnies

Laughter can ease anxiety, fight disease, and build bonds—though used the wrong way, it can also break them.

Why We Laugh

How humor keeps us safe
by Alex Lickerman, M.D.

Together in Stitches

Jokes can boost relationships—or pack a cruel punch.
by Polly Schulman

The Best Medicine

An LOL a day keeps the MD away.
by Matthew Hutson

Faking Fun

Even canned giggles have benefits
by Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPCC, LPAT

Why Is Humor So Hard to Figure Out?

The long, vain search for a Unified Theory
by Nina Strohminger

Laughter: The Science

Hoots and hollers are innate—and important—social tools.
by Robert Provine

Creating Cartoons Is No Joke

How do cartoonists come up with those ideas, anyway?
by Susan K. Perry, Ph.D.

The Six Worst Things About "Midnight in Paris": Why Woody Allen Isn't a Great Artist

Woody Allen is tres amusant, but not a great artist - cf. "Midnight in Paris"
by Stanton Peele

Are Happy Guys A Turn-Off?

Don't stop smiling yet.
by Craig Malkin, Ph.D.

Laugh At Your Own Risk

Why Schadenfreude makes us miserable
by Nadja Geipert

Springtime for Hitler

Can sudden sobriety make you talk like a bigot?
by Lynn Phillips

Can Laughter Cure Your Ills? Ask the Animals

Why laugh?
by Dale Peterson, Ph.D.

25 Laugh Lines

Bits of wit lit
by Stephanie Sarkis, Ph.D.

The Best Way to Warm Up a Relationship

Those who smile together...
by Hara Estroff Marano

Want to Know If Someone Likes You?

There's a funny way to tell...
by Norman Li, M.B.A., Ph.D.

Guaranteed to Get Guffaws

There's a particular kind of joke women respond to
by Gina Barreca, Ph.D.

Aggressively Funny

Certain types of humor work best in certain situations
by Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D.

Happily Ever Laughter

How to harness humor's power
by Peter Doskoch

World Peace, One Joke at a Time

A rabbi, a Muslim, and a minister walk into a bar…
by Reverend Susan Sparks