The earliest known joke, traced to Assyrian cuneiform, is simply "a dog walks into a bar," with no punchline. The humor is not in a witty ending but in the absurdity of the premise itself. This highlights that humor's fundamental power lies in subverting established norms and expectations.

Humor is a tool for managing an audience's emotional state. By inserting a well-placed joke after a high-stakes moment (e.g., a pregnant woman screaming), a speaker can signal that the story is safe, preventing the audience from worrying about a tragic outcome and keeping them engaged.

Our fascination with danger isn't a flaw but a survival mechanism. Like animals that observe predators from a safe distance to learn their habits, humans consume stories about threats to understand and prepare for them. This 'morbid curiosity' is a safe way to gather crucial information about potential dangers without facing direct risk.

Engaging with deeply pessimistic philosophers like Emil Cioran can have a surprisingly uplifting effect. By framing life as inherently characterized by meaningless suffering, the philosophy lowers the stakes of personal failures. When things go comically wrong, it becomes an affirmation of the worldview, leading to laughter instead of despair.

Contrary to popular wellness narratives, denial can be a productive short-term response to trauma. It's nature's way of letting in only as much pain as we can handle, providing a sense of control and hope when we need it most to remain resilient.

A successful joke's core isn't the punchline but its 'point'—the underlying message or meaning. This foundation is often a serious observation. The humor is then built by creating a premise and structure that leads the audience to this point without stating it directly.

Contrary to stereotypes that horror fans are depraved, research indicates they often possess higher-than-average cognitive empathy. To experience fear while watching a scary movie, a viewer must be able to adopt the perspective of the protagonist. The fear is generated not by the monster itself, but by empathizing with someone like us who is in danger.

Research conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that horror fans exhibited greater psychological resilience and less distress than non-fans. Regularly engaging with frightening fictional scenarios appears to serve as a form of emotional regulation practice, equipping individuals to better handle real-world stress and anxiety.

Successfully telling a joke, especially one that pushes boundaries slightly, is the ultimate demonstration of comfort and control in a social setting. However, it's a high-risk maneuver; a joke that falls flat can be disastrous. Use humor sparingly and with a strong read of the room.