Journal of Evolutionary Psychology
Volume/Issue:
Volume 6: Issue 4
The encryption theory of humor: A knowledge-based mechanism of honest signaling
Authors:
Thomas Flamson Center for Behavior, Evolution, and Culture, Department of Anthropology, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA

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H. Clark Barrett Center for Behavior, Evolution, and Culture, Department of Anthropology, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
FPR-UCLA Center for Culture, Brain, and Development, Los Angeles, USA

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Pages:
261–281
Online Publication Date:
01 Dec 2008
Publication Date:
01 Dec 2008
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/jep.6.2008.4.2
Keywords:
humor; honest signaling; encryption; assortment; relevance theory
Restricted access

Abstract

We propose that intentionally produced humor is a form of communication that evolved to broadcast information about the self and to obtain information about others by honestly signaling the fact of shared common knowledge. According to this model, humorous utterances and acts are encrypted in the sense that what makes the joke funny is not merely its surface content, but a relationship between the surface content and one or more unstated implicatures which are known by both the sender and the receiver. It is the non-random nature of the match between this unstated knowledge and the surface content which provides evidence that the producer possesses that knowledge, and that those who appreciate the joke do as well, thus rendering humor a means of assessing shared underlying knowledge, attitudes, and preferences. We present evidence from two experimental studies of humor evaluation in support of the encryption theory.

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Cover Journal of Evolutionary Psychology
Journal of Evolutionary Psychology
Print ISSN:
1789-2082
Online ISSN:
2060-5587

Journal of Evolutionary Psychology 
Language English
Size  
Year of
Foundation		 2007 (2003)
Publication
Programme		 changed title
Volumes
per Year		  
Issues
per Year		  
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 1789-2082 (Print)
ISSN 2060-5587 (Online)

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