👉 Humor engineering is the strategic crafting and deployment of comedic elements to elicit laughter, often by manipulating expectations, timing, and context. It involves understanding the psychology of humor—like incongruity (surprising contrasts), relief (releasing tension), or superiority (playing on perceived flaws)—to design jokes, skits, or content that resonates with an audience. For example, a comedian might set up a scenario with predictable outcomes, then subvert it with an unexpected twist, leveraging surprise to trigger laughter. This process requires precision: timing the punchline perfectly, balancing absurdity with relatability, and tailoring delivery to cultural or demographic nuances. The goal is not just to amuse but to create a shared, memorable experience where humor feels both clever and natural.