Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? Humor, Intentionality, and Fantasy in Children
by Caroline E. Miller
Faculty Advisor: Jacqueline Woolley
While fantasy and imagination are well-studied in children, the field of children’s humor is relatively unexplored. Both humor and fantasy are important social skills and can be used as tools in therapy, coping, and learning. Additionally, a child’s inclination to participate in fantastical thinking, or their “fantasy orientation,” affects cognitive skill, creativity, and imagination. However, few studies have been conducted that consider the interaction between fantasy and humor in children. Leading humor theories suggest that cognitive processes similar to those involved in fantasy are crucial in determining what children find humorous, and that a child’s appreciation of intentionality facilitates humor. The present study will investigate the role of intention in humor and the relationship between fantasy and humor, ultimately offering insight into the cognitive functioning of children.