Humour

High school (ages 12+)
Thinking & Learning

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/humour

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the social function?Acts as a mechanism for social bonding, conflict diffusion, and group cohesion
2. What is the psychophysiological effects?Stimulates endorphin release, reducing stress hormones and enhancing mood
3. Why do we laugh when something is unexpected?Our brain sees something that doesn't fit what we expect, then solves the puzzle, and that makes us laugh.
4. How does humour help us feel less stressed?Laughter releases endorphins that feel like a natural high, so we feel calmer and happier.

Incongruity-Resolution Theory: Humour arises from perceiving and then successfully resolving an unexpected or illogical situation.
Schadenfreude: A German term for the pleasure derived from another person's misfortune.
Cognitive Reappraisal: Mentally reframing a situation to change one's emotional response, often facilitated by humour.