The Relation of Humour and Child Development: Social, Adaptive and Emotional Aspects

Margaret Semrud-Clikeman, PhD [1], and Kimberly Glass, PhD []

Abstract

A sense of humour has been linked to social competence, popularity and adaptability. The purpose of this review was to investigate the extant research in humour in childhood. Emerging work on the neuroanatomy of humour was discussed with findings of right-hemispheric involvement for the comprehension and appreciation of humour for the affective network and the left hemisphere for cognitive understanding. These findings are intriguing when examining humour functioning in children with various disabilities, particularly the right hemisphere for children with autistic spectrum disorders or non-verbal learning disabilities. Examination of research in humour in childhood disabilities found most articles on humour in children with autistic spectrum disorder or mental retardation, with few to none in learning disabilities or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It was concluded that further study is needed to understand humour in children with disabilities and that such understanding will assist with interventions.

Keywords

humour, child development, developmental disabilities

1 Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
2 William Stixrud and Associates, Washington, DC, United States
Corresponding Author:
Margaret Semrud-Clikeman, PhD, Michigan State University, 321 A West Fee
Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824
Email: semrudcl@msu.edu
Journal of Child Neurology
000(00) 1-14
ª The Author(s) 2010
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DOI: 10.1177/0883073810373144
http://jcn.sagepub.com