Humor by Violating an Existing Expectancy

Summary The present experiment evoked humor by violating an existing expectancy compared to an experimental expectancy. The existing expectancy referred to the heaviness of textbooks stemming from students' experience. The experimental expectancy was defined by having students lift five textbooks individually while rating the covers. A book six times heavier than normal was defined as incongruous. When presented first, it evoked humor by violating the existing expectancy. When presented sixth, existing and experimental expectancies were possibly violated. The number of expectancies violated did not differentially affect humor.