Benign Violation Theory

Very Short Summary

According to Peter McGraws Benign Violation Theory laughter is the result of the violation of a norm, of how the world “ought” to be, that is simultaneously perceived to be benign.

For example a pun can be viewed as a violation of linguistic norms. A joke about religion can be viewed as a violation of what is supposed to be sacred.

According to Peter McGraw a violation can be benign when the person observing isn’t overly attached to the norm that is violated (jokes about a mother work better if it isn’t your own mother), there is physical distance (happening on the other side of the world), temporal distance (happened a long time ago) or cognitive distance (cartoon violence, slapstick).

Or there is a different explanation why something that should be a violation is actually okay. For example a fight, which is normally frowned upon, but celebrated when it happens in a box ring.

Proponents

Peter McGraw (The Humor Code)

The Case for the Benign Violation Theory

If we look at it broadly it is possible to find a violation of some sorts in any joke. And at the same time it is true that a joke has to be benign in order to elicit laughter. If you think something is too serious to joke about than you probably won’t laugh no matter what.

The Case against the Benign Violation Theory

Is it necessary to observe a benign violation in order to laugh? Yes, if we accept, that the benign violation can just be the violation of our normal mental patterns.

Is it sufficient to observe a benign violation in order to laugh? No. Otherwise someone slapping someone else without a reason in a cartoon would be enough to make us laugh because it violates the norm of we don’t slap people and it is benign because it is just a cartoon and thus not real.

Rating: Three out of Five Stars

I like it because it gives us a very specific model to look at jokes and comedy writing and also dials to turn if a joke doesn’t work: Make it more or less benign by changing the physical, the cognitive or the temporal distance.

The Takeaway

See my rating.