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Benedict Arnold

If I Cultivate a Sense of Humour, Will I Get Smarter?

In 1972, scientists tested eighty elementary-level students and found a very high correlation between humour and intelligence (r = .91).
So I would like to know, if I can improve my sense of humour, will my IQ go up too?

http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/intelligence-humour-are-smart-people-funnier/

Posted - March 11, 2017
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Responses


  • Yes ... I think most humour involves leading you down a path you don't realise you are on This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at March 11, 2017 2:07 PM MST
      March 11, 2017 2:03 PM MST
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  • I was travelling home from work one night. It was a quiet carriage on a long-distance commuter train and a young lass with a penetrating voice told her friend what had happened at work. 

    "Somebody told a joke at lunch time and everybody laughed. So I laughed. Then I asked somebody what was funny. And everybody laughed again." 

    And at that point the whole carriage laughed.

    That was back in the 1980s but your comment reminded me of her.
      March 11, 2017 3:13 PM MST
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  • 44621
    I think you have a great sense of humour and you obviously quite intelligent.
    Now my usual smart ass answer. Maybe the most of us that are very intelligent are laughing at all of the stupidity we are surrounded by and it helps us keep most of our sanity.
      March 11, 2017 3:01 PM MST
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  • Aw, Element 99...actually, I think I see a big component of loving-ness too, in your own humour...
      March 11, 2017 3:28 PM MST
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  • 44621
    Often when I see something unusual I try to create a pun or joke.
      March 12, 2017 7:58 AM MDT
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  • What a great question. I'm gonna go through all those answers again.

    In my experience humour and intelligence are intertwined and yet, as intelligence runs the gamut from moronic to genius, so humour covers a wide range. Something that would appeal to the lower end of the IQ scale would be so obvious to those at the upper end that it would not seem funny at all. And, contrariwise, many subtle remarks would completely escape those whose laughter depends on slapstick. 

    But, yes, I think humour can be learned. Sometimes.

    As a child, and all the way through my teens  I totally lacked confidence and was so shy that I mumbled in case I was making a gaffe and somebody heard it. Then, at age 21, I met Mrs Didge and she taught me to laugh at myself. (She claims that she overdid it.) The laughter in my life for the past 60 years, the confidence I feel, stems from that one thing.

    If you want a sense of humour then, in my opinion and based on my experience, you need to be able to do that: laugh at your own shortcomings. 

    Of course, it doesn't always work like that and I had a request from my creative writing class to teach them how to write humour. Those who already knew what made something funny were easy; the others wouldn't learn it in a century.

    This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at March 12, 2017 9:07 AM MDT
      March 11, 2017 3:05 PM MST
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  • There is a great deal within your answer, Dozy...not the least of which is the privilege and delight of learning a bit more about your beautiful relationship with Mrs. D.

    In case you don't realize it, I actually based the Q on a conversation you and I shared a few days ago...and there is even an ulterior motive! Being, for us as a group to consider a bit of lightness for some of the grimmer questions (and patterns of questions) here on aMug!
      March 11, 2017 3:32 PM MST
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  • No, I hadn't realised that. My memory ain't what it used to be. :(
      March 11, 2017 3:43 PM MST
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  • Well my dear, whose memory is?
    Anyway your comment was very interesting, stuck with me!
      March 11, 2017 5:48 PM MST
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  • 7683
    My dear friend, your IQ has already reached its zenith, your humility is overpowering, I always feel one can delve into one's personality by looking at their questions and answers, that is the only way we can gauge someone in a website such as this. I don't spend much time here but when I come I try to read yours (and quite a few others) questions and responses because they are frank and straight from the heart!
      March 12, 2017 9:36 PM MDT
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  • Veena.K, how very dear...and gracious too...
    I always take a special delight in your posts, also.
    And oh what a wonderful bouquet maybe ima get some "in person" to reflect your beautiful virtual ones!
      March 12, 2017 10:48 PM MDT
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  • 7683
    Thanks dear, you are an asset;)) This post was edited by Veena.K at March 12, 2017 11:05 PM MDT
      March 12, 2017 11:00 PM MDT
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  • 22891
    you might
      March 13, 2017 5:59 PM MDT
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