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Middle Ground   Reconsidering ourselves and others

Share a Joke

Try this:

  • 1. Find a joke.

What did the duck say when it bought some lipstick?

Put it on my bill.

  • 2. Ask someone nearby if they want to hear a joke.
  • 3. Deliver the joke.

Joking for a better world: how humor can lighten the day

Humor is a useful tool for interacting with people. Laughing together can ease tensions and forge connections. But…use humor responsibly!

Make a connection: Trying your joke on a stranger? Catch the person’s eye, smile, and say hello.

Stay positive: Want everyone to laugh? Use humor that doesn’t make anyone cry, flinch, or fume.

Read the vibe: Some times are not right for a joke. Be aware of people’s moods.

Change it up: If your humor’s bombing, try a different approach.

It’s good medicine: You can use humor to relax people, cope with stresses, and address difficult topics.

It shouldn’t be a power tool: Don’t put other people down in order to build yourself up.

Read more about how we interact with other people. (essay)

 


Further Reading

Roni Jacobson (2017). “Test Yourself: Psychologists Created a Quiz to Define Your Sense of Humor.” New York Magazine. (article)

Theresa E. DiDonato (2014). "Is Humor OK to Use When You're Fighting?" Psychology Today (blog)

 

 


National Science Foundation
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1713638. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

 

  • About the Exhibition
  • Play
    • Who Do You Think I Am?
    • Unseen Stories
    • My-Side Bias
    • Puzzling Public Behaviors
    • Making it in America
    • Don't Push This Button
    • Stand By or Step Up?
    • The Power of a (Bogus) Uniform
    • Share a Joke
  • Ponder
    • Thinking About People
    • The Effect of Others
    • Being Sociable
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