Is a sense of humour innate?

Question

For those of you who are confused--is a sense of humour something a person is born with? Or is it developed over time?

Answer 1

Well, I don't consider it genetic, but it is pretty innate. A basic human function, but the environment we live in also shapes what we distinguish as funny. Why does one baby laugh at peekaboo, but another finds it irritating? Why is English comedy so impenetrable to American audiences? My parents are Vietnamese, and they're fluent in English. But they just find American humor foul. They understand the joke, but to them its just vile. Like Family Guy.

Answer 2

I think it is developed over time, unless you are an American or a German  

Answer 3

You either have or you do not have a sense of humour. some people can be taught but alot of the time, people who simply dont have it dont have it. BUT, there are many different kinds of humour, some people laugh at movement and some laugh at what people say, and some do none.

for example i always laugh at sarcastic humour, and so do alot of people, but sometimes people just do not understand sarcasm and do not notice when it is being said, and assume the person is serious about what he said, and no  matter how much you explain to them, they still dont get future sarcastic jokes.

laughter CAN be taught but is also given to us naturally. i dont know why we laugh (one might say its coz its funny but thats not a real reason) or why nature gave us the ability to laugh.

if you consider that most hominids (apes humans etc) laugh (just in a more barbaric way) would realise the reason for laughter is in most cases, innate.

ps - i always used think that clapping was something that is taught... and indeed it can be, but if you also consider that monkeys clap for the same reasons we do, you would also think that the clapping of hands is also innate

Answer 4

Well answer me this..have u ever seen a baby crackin jokes in her nappy, or doin a stand up gig!

Well might aswell gimme the points for the most hands down! lol ..mwah xx

Answer 5

I say you're born with a certain sense of humor but your environment changes that.  Take the baby example.  I'm guessing all babies pretty much laugh at the same sort of thing - peekabo, silly dogs, etc.  But certain cultures or generations have their own senses of humor, and individuals have a wide array of variatons on that.  I don't know if a certain type of humor is genetic or anything like that, but I'm sure everyone has potential for it that develops according to environment.

Answer 6

I don't think that a person can be "taught" humor; some people are born with it and some develop it over time & others seem to lack it altogether.  I think that the more intelligent a person is allows that person to see humor in situations not everyone can.  Then again, I stopped dating a guy because he showed no sense of humor at all.  If someone told a joke it would usually go over his head and he was unable to laugh at himself.

I don't think that a happy baby necessarily has a sense of humor; I'd coo too if someone fed and burped me and tried to get me to smile & show my gummy mouth.

Answer 7

I honestly think that this is something that people are born with.

It can also be cultivated, but I don't think that that will ever match the natural ability.