ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Court jester hypothesis

The Court Jester Hypothesis is an idea that says that people who are funny are more likely to be accepted and loved by others, even if they don't have other useful skills or important jobs.

Think of a king or queen who has a team of workers, like cooks, soldiers, and advisors. Some of these workers are very important and do important jobs, like protecting the kingdom or making important decisions. But there might also be a person whose only job is to make the king or queen laugh - this person is called the court jester.

Even though the court jester doesn't have an important job like the other workers, people still like and appreciate him because he makes them laugh. He might tell jokes, do silly tricks, or wear funny clothes to make people laugh.

The Court Jester Hypothesis suggests that in real life, people who are funny might also be more liked and accepted than people who are serious or quiet. This is because laughter helps people feel good and happy, and if someone can make other people laugh, they are more likely to be accepted into social groups and make new friends.

So, like a court jester, being funny can be a very valuable skill, even if it doesn't seem as important as other skills like math or science.