Science, albeit boring to some, can play a role in the exact opposite, humor.

There are many different theories and concepts as to what makes us laugh, but it is hard to decide on a finite reason, as everyone perceives everything differently. This is why when you show your grandma a picture of skibidi rizz, they may not find it very funny. Don’t fret, though, as here are some (mostly) foolproof ways of increasing your humor:

• The Benign Violation Theory. The Benign Violation Theory is a popular theory that is widely considered to be the base for all humor. The theory is, if there is a violation, and the situation is benign, then it creates humor. In case you didn’t know, a benign situation is a kind and unharmful environment, like when you are with a friend, you know they won’t cause actual bodily harm to you.
• For a violation to be humorous, one cannot be strongly committed to the violated norm. This one is very simple, you need to find a good balance between a violation and a benign situation. For example, if you go up to a random stranger and start tickling him, that is simply a violation and you will probably go to jail. But if you are tickling a friend, the situation between you and your friend is benign, yet with the violation of being tickled, your friend may laugh. Now some will say you always laugh if you are tickled, but I’d like you to go outside and tickle a random stranger and tell me if he laughs it off.
• Another important factor is not making the situation too benign. If you say “Wouldn’t it be funny if…” or “Imagine if…” then you may have just made the situation too benign, by making the following violation too imaginary. They need to feel the violation firsthand, and putting them off with such phrases will induce them to take the following violation less seriously.
• Psychological/literal distance. Having some separation from the violation can make it feel less like a violation and more like a decent joke. This can be either distance-wise, like making a joke about another country, or time-wise, like making a joke about certain world leaders from long ago.
• Having a different explanation for the violation, therefore making it OK. While this is not always the case, it does help to have a different viewpoint of the violation which makes it seem OK. An example of this could be tickling, a mock way of fighting. It’s still a violation, but not a dangerous one, which is the perfect middle point between a violation, and a benign situation.
• In the end, it all comes down to you making bad jokes, as this activates neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the process our brains undergo when we fail at a task which causes changes in how we think and operate so next time we are more open to different solutions which will aid in getting it right soon enough. So all you have to do is get out there, make bad jokes, and let your brain figure out what makes people laugh.

To recap, there are five important things to consider when trying to be funny. The Benign Violation Theory states that humor is a result of a violation occurring in a benign situation. Don’t be strongly committed to the violated norm, basically, don’t soften your violation up too much or it will remove all surprise when you say it. Distance from the violation is a good way to make it more benign, like the Titanic (I mean we can all agree there was definitely room on that door). Having a different and better explanation for the violation makes it more funny. Most importantly, going out and having real-world experience to improve your joke-making skills is the best way you can quickly and efficiently be better at making your friends laugh.

While some people are more accustomed to dad jokes and quirky punchlines, and others are more accustomed to the sudden and surprising violation that gets brought up from that one friend from time to time, you need to know to whom you are telling the joke to get the best reaction out of them. Even if they don’t find it funny at first, don’t worry, soon enough you’ll hit home base

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