Humor and laughter accompany us from the moment of birth throughout our lives. Humor is an integral part of every society, including its communication products. To understand the social significance of humor in general and in the media in particular, we must understand its significance on a personal level. Therefore, this entry begins with an introduction on humor and laughter. The entry then discusses the relationship between humor and personal and social needs, how humor appears in the media, and humor in repressive societies.

What Is Humor?

Humor is an integral part of every aspect of life; however, it is impossible to find one comprehensive definition for it. One theory of humor is that it is based on incongruity; that is, it is found in events that ...

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