ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the ontogenetic development of humour appreciation, particularly with the cognitive aspects of this development. Answers are sought to questions of the following sort: What are the cognitive processes which are engaged during the appreciation of humour? What is the relation between the structural characteristics of the various forms of humour and these cognitive processes? How do these cognitive processes change with psychological development? And how are these developmental changes related to other more general aspects of cognitive growth?
