Wasn’t it Marilyn Monroe who said that “if you can make a girl laugh you can make her do anything“? How true is it?  I think it’s very true … nothing is more attractive than a sense of humor, for both men and women.  Nothing relieves tension like laughing.  Laughing with others increasing bonding.  Laughing as a couple increases intimacy.  I recently read an article in Psychology Today called The Sexy Side of Funny.  It really struck a chord because I love when a guy makes me laugh.

According to the article, “women are particularly interested in a man with a sense of humor, or more specifically, someone that will make them laugh. Men on the other hand, want a date that will laugh at their jokes.”  Interesting, perhaps it is about feeling good about ourselves.  I have to say I agree with that.  Laughter is definitely the best medicine.  There are countless studies and articles on that very subject.  Essentially laughter releases endorphins.  According to studies, this can reduce pain by up to 50%.  Now that’s nothing to laugh at!! So laughing makes us feel good and who doesn’t want to feel good?

The article goes on to say that “choosy women use humor as a sign of intelligence and weed out the less competent. Men use humor to impress women, and the funny ones succeed.” Humor is a good tool to use to determine who you want or don’t want in your life.  Really, it’s all about being with someone who makes you feel good inside and out.  A person who brings out the best in you.  That should be a basic requirement.

Are There Limits to Humor?

I believe someone could go too far with their jokes.  A person needs to know their limits.  It’s good to be funny, but not go overboard, especially with sarcastic or insulting jokes towards anyone.  As always, you need to put your best foot forward when dating.  Here is an interesting perspective that I read, “A woman who deploys a typically male sense of humor—one that’s aggressive or competitive—is a turnoff to men, says Don Nilsen, a linguistics professor at Arizona State University in Tempe and an expert on humor. Many men feel threatened, perceiving a funny woman as a rival or worrying that they’ll become a target of her sharp tongue. “I think every man in the world loves the humor, even the sexual put-down humor, of Judy Tenuta or Joan Rivers,” he says. “But very few men want to marry them.” Harsh? Well, makes sense, remember a man wants a lady and joking and swearing like a man isn’t very ladylike, is it?

Selecting the right partner is no easy task.  It’s important to know what makes you happy and feel good inside, humor definitely plays a big role in this.  So next time you meet someone who makes you laugh then perhaps that’s the next step to something greater … perhaps.

What are your thoughts on humor and dating? Do you prefer a partner with a good sense of humor?

Your Sister in Dating Bliss,

Single Dating Diva

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