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An
incongruity exists here: the situation is OK in that their expressions
are happy, but it is not OK because they are fighting. Simultaneity time!
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The incongruity theory: This suggests that humour arises when the seemly and logical disappear and things that do not normally go well together appear. The child who places a toy cat in the cat basket and heads off to the vet can bring about intense laughter. This occurs when certain situations do not go well together. It suggests that something doesn't belong here. Laughter, as a social signal warns others about this. Thomas Veatch offers a more scientific explanation of this:
Veatch's Theory of Humor
Thomas Veatch's Theory of Humor states that in order for something to be perceived as humorous, there are three elements that need to be present:
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V
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There is a perception that something is wrong - there is a violation of what should be. |
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N
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There is a prevailing perception that the situation is, in fact, normal and okay. |
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Simultaneity
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Both N and V are present at the same time - "okay" and "not okay" are present in the perceiver's mind at the same time, resulting in an incongruity. |
Tom Veatch defines humor by saying, "humor occurs when it seems that things are normal while at the same time something seems wrong."
You can find a summary of his theory at this web site or read the full article here.
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