Why And How Is Awkwardness Funny?

Let's start from knowing the reason of why something funny is funny. Let's take a look at why when you see a funny thing then you laugh.

Laughter is a form of human communication. Several species of animals are known to laugh too, especially if they are being tickled. However, their laughter is very different from human laughter.

In contrast to other forms of communication, such as speaking, laughter is done unconsciously. Someone will reflexively laugh if there is a trigger. The trigger is usually something funny or thing that makes you happy. But humans don't always laugh because of something funny. For example, when they feel embarrassed, confused, or being tickled. To be sure, you don't have to plan laughing for laughter happens spontaneously. So it is very difficult to laugh if you force yourself to laugh. It's similar to how crying works.

Now let's go back to the main topic. I want to pinpoint one of the causes that make something funny funny which is the embarrassment or awkwardness. Awkwardness happens when you feel ashamed after doing something that doesn't result as expected but in funny way.

In the awkward situation, there are two participants. The first participant is the one who initiates action and the second participant is what makes the action embarrassing.

What is awkward moment like?

Here are some of the examples of awkward moments:

1. You wave at somebody you think you know but you actually don't.
2. You reply to somebody you think is talking to you but actually don't.
3. You pull a door that says "push".
4. You ask your friend, "How are you?", and she answers, "I'm good. You?", and you answer, "Good. You?"
5. and so many more..

Why is awkwardness funny?

People will think that awkwardness is funny. The reasons are as follows:

Here are why people will laugh at awkward situation caused by the first participant.

1. They are too confident

Their confidence made them look serious. When they are serious, the expected response from the second participant must be serious as well. But unfortunately their expectation doesn't come into reality and even rewarded with poker face of second participant.

Let's take an example, Obama confidently gave his hand to handshake the host he visited. But the host even did it to someone else who was next to Obama. Funnily, this happened spontaneously without any intention to embarrass each other.

2. Natural expression given by them

Before they are in awkward situation, they will look natural and serious. Yet their seriousness is rewarded with embarrassment.

Then here are why people think awkwardness is funny caused by the second participant.

1. They ignore the seriousness of the first participant.

The second participants don't seem to care the seriousness of the first participants. This may be done intentionally or unintentionally by the second participant.

2. Their face or conditions are so innocent.

The second participants seem very innocent even though they have just disappointed the first participants.

That is why awkwardness is funny.

Even so, until now the cause of why humans laugh is still not certain. Laughter is a human behavior organized by the brain. Laughter is one sign that you are a human being.