The mind runs ahead of the speaker. The brain is wired to predict. Expectations in the human brain are the result of conditioning, neural programming. We can work with that, especially to create humor. Laughs are relief. Relief is relaxing. Relaxing is trusting. Trust leads to receptiveness and learning. Got a message you want remembered? Get them laughing.
Why do people need humor? To break the mental routine. Yes, I just suggested that it’s that simple. People laugh the most when they are truly focused in the very moment. (Ever notice how skydivers always have grins?) Joy, humor, laughter, help us to break up the mental patterns we become trapped in. Conversely, breaking the pattern leads to joy!. Elsewhere in this blog, I’ve talked about the need to do things differently, and referred to the preset expectations that an audience places on the speaker without a word being said. Habitual thoughts are traps, and who wants to live moment by moment in their own predictable mind trap? No one. We want to be saved from intellectual routine. Be aware that the mind runs ahead of the speaker by about 1½ seconds, anticipating the next thought. Humor is not routine – it is the breaking of patterns, the connection of ironic thoughts, and the unusual insight (OK, this is a limited discussion). Let’s take these (predictably) one at a time.
Breaking mental patterns. The most recognizable of these tools is the classic comedians tool, the rule of three, a very reliable tactic for laughs. The rule of three relies on the mental pattern, the brains wiring, and that screwy look on your face. Do you see how those three worked?... One statement, another supporting statement, and then the third element takes the mind suddenly elsewhere. Pull the brain back from it’s leading thoughts, and ta-da, laughter can happen. Setting the pattern gets the mind moving toward the next logical event in the sequence, then breaking the pattern with an unexpected, offbeat third element jostles the thoughts back into the moment. BUT, and this is critical to a learning session, without disrupting the overall direction. To use the absurd can be too distracting. For instance, if the above line is changed to; relies on the mental pattern, the brains wiring, and a discount from the veterinarian… THAT third element is too far off base. Using the rule of three, the third element should loosely fit into the scheme of the intentions.
Ironic connections. In this element of humor, the speaker draws contrasts that are not at first obvious to the predicting mind. Contrasts can be physical and verbal; Extolling the virtues of an organization while display the faking gagging finger motion. Questioning the direction of government regulations then asking if anyone actually knows a good 24-hour plumber. Or, bragging about your grand position or vast knowledge but delivered under your breath, as if you do not believe it. These types of contrasts speak to true intentions, in opposition to the leading thought. The audience takes in all the cues, and jerks those leading thoughts back around to being in the moment, and a laugh follows. Irony can be obvious, too. The speaker who says, “I hate being the center of attention”, then pauses, can usually count on a laugh. In a story line, an ironic connection might simply say “A shin is for finding furniture in the dark.”, or “I spend a lot of time in taxis, praying.”
The unusual insight. One of the best at these is the great Jerry Seinfeld. His television show was described as a little show about nothing because the premises for each episode were built upon odd little human observations; A remark about other children having a pony upset a woman. A date ends badly, in disagreement about a TV commercial. Extreme inconveniences are caused by a baby shower. A long restaurant wait, spent discussing everyone else nearby. Or, dealing with odd questions; Can a holistic healer cure bad tonsils? How can you stop junk mail? Which cartoon was best for children? How could they intersect 1st and 1st streets? Unusual observations or insights can lead to hilariously fertile ground for speaker-audience interactions. You can find these at any given moment if you are open to life’s little quirky moments, and can have endless fun questioning everyday scenarios, purposes, and impressions.
Humor takes advantage of the way the human mind is wired by taking it in unexpected directions. We listen and predict in order to be aware. It’s an ancient survival thing, required to stay out of the saber-tooth tiger’s jaws, so it is a reliable genetic characteristic. Not to worry, the slow ones got eaten.
