Pattern Recognition

Basic Principles

Disagreeing with alternative ideas proposing that the perception of incongruity constitutes the foundation for humor, pattern recognition theory contends that the recognition of patterns has enabled the human race to develop an intellect that is unparalleled in its plasticity and adaptability, later stimulating the expression of this capacity for non-genetic self-modification in the form of advanced culture. Emphasizing the positive usefulness of humorous perceptions, it was released as one of two contrasting evolutionary theories, with the other, information normalization theory, intentionally reversing its arguments to suggest that humor exists not to identify novel insights but to motivate the avoidance of potential pitfalls in poor-quality data. Pattern recognition is therefore distinctly opposed to the interpretation of humor as a corrective mechanism and makes much of the utility of patterns in human cultural development.

Types of Pattern

According to the schematic mechanism of humor presented by pattern recognition theory, there are two main types of pattern that are central to the process of cultural and intellectual adaptability. The first, known as patterns of fidelity, are recognized by the brain when multiple units are compared for their similarity, thereby producing a pattern of repetition in those shared qualities. For example, if two individuals are judged to exhibit a similarity of appearance, the individuals constitute multiple units and their physical resemblance provides a point of duplication or a “context” for their comparison. The second, patterns of magnitude, are recognized when a single unit is repeated in multiple contexts. For example, the same person may be relocated to a previously unexpected environment, providing an element of duplication within a framework of shifting conditions. Various names are given to a number of different subtypes of pattern (such as opposition, translation, completion, qualitative recontextualization, and scale), but the definitions of these terms are not essential for a rudimentary understanding of the theory provided the data being identified conform to these basic stipulations of unit and context interaction.

Surprise

To complete the model, pattern recognition theory insists on the presence of novelty in humorous perceptions. The apprehension of repetitive designs, such as may appear in wallpaper or other graphic illustrations, provides an intuitively identifiable pattern but would usually fail to do so in a surprising or novel fashion. Perceptions of this type would not therefore meet the necessary conditions that pattern recognition theory proposes for humor, whereas the [Page 558]unexpected duplication of a unit in stimuli such as mimicry or caricature may do so.

Claims

Pattern recognition theory claims universality regarding its application, maintaining that it can be used to explain any instance of humor regardless of its nature or level of complexity. It also emphasizes that patterns only exist as facets of perception while the brain attempts to order and interpret external stimuli rather than as reflections of objective reality. By suggesting that a substructure of patterns beneath the content of the stimulus forms the basis of humor but insisting that their perception is highly individualized, the theory denies the possibility of intrinsic funniness within any stimulus or genre of humor. As a consequence, any subject matter may be found amusing provided the individual’s subjective assessment allows the conditions of novel pattern recognition to be met. However, cultural influences will inevitably affect the tendency and ability to select and recognize patterns and will also lead to varying degrees of surprise at their apprehension, as will the individual’s repeated exposure to the stimulus. Humor is therefore an abstract, cognitive process encouraging the recognition of novel patterns of potential value to the specific individual assessing the information with which he or she is confronted.

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