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The Humor Code

In search of what makes things funny

Humor
Who Is Funnier—Democrats or Republicans?

Peter McGraw Ph.D. on November 2, 2012

The Humor Code takes a scientific look at humor in politics. Peter McGraw and Joel Warner ask who's funnier, Republicans or Democrats?

The Humor Code takes a scientific look at humor in politics. Peter McGraw and Joel Warner ask who's funnier, Republicans or Democrats?

Humor
Most Things (Even the Things That Are Meant to Be) Aren't Funny

Peter McGraw Ph.D. on July 16, 2012

Unfortunately, people also don't spend very much time finding things funny. In a 1999 study, Rod Martin and Nicholas Kupier asked adults to keep a laughter diary. The researchers found that the average person reported only 18 episodes of laughter per day.

Unfortunately, people also don't spend very much time finding things funny. In a 1999 study, Rod Martin and Nicholas Kupier asked adults to keep a laughter diary. The researchers found that the average person reported only 18 episodes of laughter per day.

Humor
Meet the People Who Use Humor to Heal

Peter McGraw Ph.D. on June 11, 2012

“Comedy saved my life,” said Saranne Rothberg, who started therapeutic-humor nonprofit ComedyCures after using humor to help her cope with and recover from stage-four breast cancer.

“Comedy saved my life,” said Saranne Rothberg, who started therapeutic-humor nonprofit ComedyCures after using humor to help her cope with and recover from stage-four breast cancer.

Humor
Can Humor Help Stop An Unwanted Pregnancy?

Peter McGraw Ph.D. on March 5, 2012

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy has a problem: Seven out of 10 pregnancies among unmarried 18-to-29-year-olds in this country are unplanned. The organization also has an unusual potential solution: comedy.

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy has a problem: Seven out of 10 pregnancies among unmarried 18-to-29-year-olds in this country are unplanned. The organization also has an unusual potential solution: comedy.

Humor
The Secrets of Thanksgiving Gluttony & Black Friday Insanity

Peter McGraw Ph.D. on November 21, 2011

Millions of Americans will eat too much on Thanksgiving and fight through the crowds on Black Friday. Is all that tryptophan turning us into gluttonous maniacs?

Millions of Americans will eat too much on Thanksgiving and fight through the crowds on Black Friday. Is all that tryptophan turning us into gluttonous maniacs?

Humor
Swearing Off (Humorous) Thought Experiments

Peter McGraw Ph.D. on November 6, 2011

Why have humor theories long fallen short? Maybe it's because thinkers have spent too long thinking about them, and not enough time subjecting them to empirical tests.

Why have humor theories long fallen short? Maybe it's because thinkers have spent too long thinking about them, and not enough time subjecting them to empirical tests.

Humor
The Importance of Humor Research

Peter McGraw Ph.D. on September 14, 2011

Humor has been around for as long as there has been humanity -- and considering that chimps and other primates laugh, humor has likely been around even longer than that. In comparison, psychological research on humor is just getting cracking

Humor has been around for as long as there has been humanity -- and considering that chimps and other primates laugh, humor has likely been around even longer than that. In comparison, psychological research on humor is just getting cracking

Humor
Can—and Should—Humor Be Explained Once and for All?

Peter McGraw Ph.D. on July 20, 2011

One of the hallmarks of civilization has been to take the disparate and chaotic elements of the world around us and wield them together in tidy, eloquent explanations and then test them. It's time to do the same for the wide world of comedy.

One of the hallmarks of civilization has been to take the disparate and chaotic elements of the world around us and wield them together in tidy, eloquent explanations and then test them. It's time to do the same for the wide world of comedy.