What makes things funny | Peter McGraw | TEDxBoulder?

What makes things funny is about surprise and expectations, just like when you think you're going to get a cookie but get a green vegetable instead.

Imagine you're playing with your favorite toy, and you expect it to make a bzzz sound. But instead, it says "Hello!" in a loud voice, that’s funny because it was unexpected. Peter McGraw, the person talking in the video, says people laugh when something happens that breaks what they were expecting.

When you're reading a story and expect a dragon to come out of a cave, but instead, a cat walks out, that’s surprise, and it makes you laugh. It's like when your friend pretends to be a robot but then starts dancing.

If you know what’s going to happen next, it doesn’t feel funny anymore. But if you don’t expect something, like getting a silly message from your mom instead of homework, that’s funny because it breaks the rules you thought were in place.

So, surprise, and not knowing what will happen next, is one of the main things that makes people laugh!