Sharp humor may not be for everyone. However, research suggests that those who do enjoy it likely have a higher IQ. 

In a 2016 paper, researchers in Austria argued that even those who enjoy dark humor have higher verbal and nonverbal intelligence. This is because processing and producing one’s own sense of humor requires emotional and cognitive abilities.

Humor with wit is widely appreciated, especially in a professional setting. According to experts, a working environment with some laughter attracts and retains employees and helps make the company’s brand more relatable. 

As workplace expert and best-selling author Lynn Taylor stated in an interview with Forbes, humor shows “maturity and the ability to see the forest through the trees.”

Humor is a known icebreaker for any situation. A well-delivered joke can put a tense boardroom at ease or douse the fire on a heated argument with a significant other. It can also make you think clearly. 

As explained by international business speaker Michael Kerr, it happens from a shift in mindset. 

“People who laugh in response to a conflict tend to shift from convergent thinking where they can see only one solution, to divergent thinking where multiple ideas are considered.”

A giggle can do wonders for your ill feelings if you need cheering up or stress relief. Kerr calls it a “triple whammy” because, for one, it can provide a “cognitive shift” in your perspective of your stressors. At the same time, humor and laughter offer both physical and emotional relaxation. 

Let’s turn the tables of the discussion to you, readers. Which of these images do you find funniest? Why did they get your attention? Share your thoughts in the comments!