Final answer:
Humor in jokes often stems from unexpected elements and surprising twists that deviate from the norm, inducing laughter and amusement. Comedy involves characters in practical situations with social blunders and exaggerations, which are universally found to unite and relieve tension.
Step-by-step explanation:
Humor makes us laugh because almost all jokes contain unexpected elements and surprising twists. The essence of humor often lies in the sudden deviation from what is considered normal or predictable, which leads to a reaction of amusement. The characters in comedies face practical dilemmas, such as 'How can I get out of the bedroom before the husband of the woman I am with comes in?'.
These situations, coupled with social faux pas, misunderstandings, coincidences, and exaggerated physicality, contribute to the humor. Even cultural universals like jokes, as researched by anthropologist George Murdock, emphasize that humor is a key element in creating unity among people and relieving tension.