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Which of the following is NOT an element of Latta's Theory?

(A) It includes stages of unrelaxation.
(B) It involves a cognitive shift.
(C) Relaxation is a defining feature of humor.
(D) All humor is grounded in abusiveness."

User Tollmanz
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Final answer:

The element not associated with Latta's Theory of humor is (D) the notion that all humor is grounded in abusiveness. Humor typically functions as a social release and contributes to bonding rather than being inherently abusive.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question is that (D) All humor is grounded in abusiveness is NOT an element of Latta's Theory. Latta's Theory suggests that humor often functions to provide relief from social tensions, rather than being rooted solely in abusiveness.

In humor theories, elements such as stages of unrelaxation, relaxation, and a cognitive shift are often mentioned as phases through which individuals pass when experiencing humor. These concepts are part of the analysis of social phenomena surrounding humor, as argued by theorists like Mary Douglas, who suggested humor serves as a release for thoughts and actions that might threaten the social order. George Murdock's findings that humor, laughter, and jokes are cultural universals, are also supportive of the concept that humor plays an important role in human interaction by releasing tensions and fostering a sense of community, which contradicts the idea that all humor is based on abusiveness.

User Fahad Hasan
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