Even though a sense of humor has been considered one of the best features one can have in today’s society, not many people possess this type of characteristic.
Humor is known for lifting the mood, creating a cheerful atmosphere, and for gathering the sympathy of others.
But what happens when one does not possess a developed, strong sense of humor?
More importantly, why do some people not have a sense of humor?
In this article, we will be discussing this so-called desired social characteristic and finding out if this is a skill that can be learned.
Let’s dive in!
Humor is Relative
As some psychological studies say, humor is a relative personality trait. It can depend on various factors, but genetics and the environment play a huge role in its determination.
To be more precise, if one lives in an environment where the humor is being appreciated and stimulated frequently, that person is more likely to develop a sense of humor of their own in the later stages of life.
However, an environment where the humor isn’t displayed and valued as much may result in a not well-developed sense of humor.
Overall, various psychological studies over the years have shown that everyone possesses a little bit of humor.
However, some people haven’t entirely or at all developed this type of social skill.
So, the good news is that humor can be encouraged and practiced. But the key is first to determine why someone may not have a strong sense of humor.
We will be discussing some of the possible reasons.
Possible Reasons Why You May Not Express Your Sense of Humor
As mentioned before, various factors may influence your sense of humor development levels. We have stated that genetics and the environment can be two of the key influencers responsible for your inadequate or non-existent sense of humor.
Let’s see what other reasons are:
Reason #1 – You May Have Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is a very common disorder in today’s society.
If you have social anxiety, it can be the main reason for not expressing your humor freely. Of course, to know if social anxiety stops you from cracking up some jokes with your friends, ask yourself if you are afraid of being judged.
If you are scared that no one will laugh at your joke, or if you think that your friends will laugh at your rather than at your joke, you might be anxious.
Reason #2 – You Are an Overthinker
Overthinking can be such a headache, especially if it happens to you frequently.
So, if you are a known overthinker, the reason why your sense of humor can’t fully blossom might be because you clearly re-think everything.
Overthinking is a buzzkill and can sometimes stop you from having the time of your life with your friends.
If your joke is not perfect, so what? At the end of the day, that won’t even matter. What matters is that you have fun!
Reason #3 – You Are Under Too Much Stress
Stress can highly affect your sense of humor and your overall mood too.
As it can play a huge negative role in your life, there’s a possibility that it’s also stopping your brain from coming up with funny jokes. This can happen, especially if you are under a lot of pressure which can also affect your social intelligence.
How to Encourage And Develop Your Sense of Humor
Since we concluded that a sense of humor could be developed, we will give you some tips on encouraging and practicing it. Hopefully, these tips will help your humor to become a natural thing for you!
Tip #1 – Think of The Positive Benefits Humor Can Have
According to the Guardian, humor can make your life enjoyable and help you pass through the dark times. Humor and laughter can trigger the production of “happy” hormones (cortisol) known for lifting the mood, giving motivation, bringing positive thoughts into your mind.
So, when you think of it this way, humor has more benefits and can outnumber the amount of your fear or social anxiety and help you overcome it.
Tip #2 – Don’t Pressure Yourself Into Being Creative
Having a sense of humor doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to crack up funny jokes all the time. Sometimes, even the stupid jokes or simple puns will do the trick and make people around you laugh.
So, don’t put pressure on yourself and your creativity. Once you stop forcing it, it will naturally come to you.
Tip #3 – Take Risks
The only thing stopping you from having a good sense of humor is yourself.
We know that fear of judgment can sometimes control you. But to develop your sense of humor, it’s pretty important to take risks.
If you have had a joke or a pun in your mind while hanging around with your friends, get out of your comfort zone, take a risk and say it out loud! Nothing horrible will happen to you. Don’t be afraid to attempt and make someone laugh just because you think your joke is terrible.
Taking the risk and leaving your comfort zone might be the most crucial thing to help you grow, strengthen and develop your sense of humor.
Don’t also forget to enjoy the things and moments that can make you laugh. That can be the best way to develop your sense of humor!
Final Tip
Take time and effort to educate yourself. Humor is a skill, and we can practice it. You can explore different types of humor, famous comedians, and books on this topic.
Also, we wanted to put our knowledge into action, so we have created the most comprehensive guide on how to be funny. Make sure to check it out and begin your journey.
Your Turn!
Now, we would love to hear from you!
Do you think that you are a person that possesses a strong sense of humor?
Also, do you think that humor is something that can easily be acquired?
We would love to hear your thoughts on this matter, so don’t hesitate to write them down in the comment section below!
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