It is believed that cognitive abilities are the thing that distinguishes a human being from an animal. That seems to make sense, considering there are definitely animal species with way better physical abilities, including those faster, stronger, or with way more heightened senses.

This universal theory aside, the descriptions of what makes us human would likely differ from person to person. And if I was to come up with one based on the pictures on the list, it would likely be something along the lines of “doing one’s best, often encountering something unexpected”.

Some of the situations in these pictures are indeed quite perplexing, but that might also be due to lack of context and the factor of surprise. For instance, a group of Ronald McDonalds in a parking lot might make more sense when you know that they’re shooting an ad in the area; however, without any context, it simply looks like a very confusing dream.

The incongruity theory is arguably one of the main reasons why we find certain unexpected things funny. It is one of the three main theories of humor, together with the superiority and relief theories, which is based on the way we perceive the world and the way it actually is—the humor in that arises from when reality violates our mental patterns and expectations. For example, we see something that we didn’t expect to see in that place (because of certain expectations or the way we typically perceive that given environment) and we find it amusing.

Professor of Philosophy at Bucknell University, Sheila Lintott, pointed out that “The incongruity theory purports to define the formal object of comic amusement, which it locates in certain kinds of incongruity. The superiority theory is concerned with the affective response that often accompanies comic amusement, which it maintains is an enjoyable feeling of superiority to the object of amusement. Finally, the relief theory focuses on the expression of comic amusement in laughter, which it considers a welcome release of pent-up tension and energy.”

Prof. Sheila Lintott added that, “We might say that the incongruity theory focuses on the cognitive aspects, superiority the emotive, and relief the physical [aspects] of comic amusement.” And that’s where the cognitive abilities that differentiate a human being from an animal seemingly come in handy, as they allow us to perceive humor through incongruity theory.

According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the incongruity theory is currently the dominant theory of humor in philosophy and psychology. The encyclopedia revealed that the first person to use the term incongruous in this context was Scottish philosopher and poet, James Beattie, in the late 18th century. 

He believed that the reason for humorous laughter was “two or more inconsistent, unsuitable, or incongruous parts or circumstances, considered as united in one complex object or assemblage, as acquiring a sort of mutual relation from the peculiar manner in which the mind takes notice of them”. And indeed, a seemingly fragile elderly woman with a skateboard in her hand or a homeless person sitting on the ground with VR glasses sure feel incongruous enough to evoke a giggle.