The Noel Strengths Academy defines it this way:

• Those with the strengths of humor like to laugh, tease, joke but not in  ways harmful to others 
• Brings smiles to other people’s faces 
• Are able to seeing the lighter side of difficult issues 
• Can laugh at themselves; don’t take themselves too seriously 
• Playful 

• Underuse: Over-seriousness
• Overuse: Giddiness

Key Research:

• Rank order of Humor in populations from:
  • US : 8;
  • European:  7
  • Asia: 17
  • Latin America: 17
  • Sub-Saharan Africa: 14
  • Middle east: 12
• In a study of character strengths and adolescent peer relationships, the strengths deemed most desirable/important in a friend were honesty, humor, kindness, and fairness, and those most connected with higher peer acceptance were perspective, love, kindness, social intelligence, teamwork, leadership, and humor (Wagner, 2018).
• The most prevalent character strengths in very young children are love, kindness, creativity, curiosity, and humor (Park & Peterson, 2006a).
• In a study of character strengths and adolescent peer relationships, the strengths deemed most desirable/important in a friend were honesty, humor, kindness, and fairness, and those most connected with higher peer acceptance were perspective, love, kindness, social intelligence, teamwork, leadership, and humor (Wagner, 2018).

Psychological Implications of Humor

1. Humor is linked to greater stress relief: Research has shown that individuals with high levels of Humor tend to experience greater stress relief and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression (Martin, 2001).
2. Humor is associated with greater social connections: Studies have found that individuals with high levels of Humor tend to have stronger social connections and more supportive relationships (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005).
3. Humor is a key predictor of creativity: Research has shown that individuals with high levels of Humor tend to be more creative and innovative in their problem-solving approaches (Amabile, 1993).
4. Humor is linked to greater emotional intelligence: Studies have found that individuals with high levels of Humor tend to have greater emotional intelligence, which is essential for achieving success in various domains (Goleman, 1995).
5. Humor is associated with greater resilience: Research has shown that individuals with high levels of Humor tend to be more resilient and better able to bounce back from adversity (Tugade & Fredrickson, 2004).
6. Humor is a key component of positive relationships: Studies have found that individuals with high levels of Humor tend to have more positive and supportive relationships with others (Fisher et al., 2002).
7. Humor is linked to greater self-esteem: Research has shown that individuals with high levels of Humor tend to have greater self-esteem and a more positive self-image (Harter, 1999).
8. Humor is associated with greater adaptability: Studies have found that individuals with high levels of Humor tend to be more adaptable and better able to adjust to changing circumstances (Kashdan & Ciarrochi, 2013).
9. Humor is a key predictor of career success: Research has shown that individuals with high levels of Humor tend to be more successful in their careers, including achieving higher levels of job satisfaction and career advancement (Judge et al., 2013).
10. Humor is linked to greater overall well-being: Studies have found that individuals with high levels of Humor tend to report higher levels of overall well-being, including greater happiness, life satisfaction, and positive emotions (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005).

Tayyab Rashid and Afroze Anjum offer 340 Ways to Use VIA Character Strengths including these four for Humor:

• Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown and Christopher Vaughan 
• Play It Away: A Workaholic’s Cure for Anxiety by Charlie Hoehn 
• “The Humor Code: A Global Search for What Makes Things Funny” by Peter McGraw and Joel Warner This book explores the science behind humor and what makes things funny across different cultures and contexts.
• “The Humor Advantage: Why Some Businesses Are Ridiculously Successful and Others Aren’t” by Michael Kerr Focusing on the benefits of humor in the workplace, this book discusses how cultivating a sense of humor can contribute to success and positive workplace culture.
• “The Power of Humor: The Funny Truth About Life and How to Live It” by Dr. Madan Kataria: This book explores the science behind humor and its benefits for mental and physical health. It provides practical strategies for incorporating humor into daily life and overcoming stress and anxiety[Not included in the search results].
• “Humor, Laughter, and Physical Health: Methodological Issues and Research Findings” by R. A. Martin: This book is a comprehensive review of research on the relationship between humor and physical health. It discusses the various ways in which humor can positively impact health outcomes, such as reducing stress and anxiety1.

Learn more on Humor

New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly shares a portfolio of her wise and funny cartoons about modern life — and talks about how humor can empower women to change the rules.

Suspicious emails: unclaimed insurance bonds, diamond-encrusted safe deposit boxes, close friends marooned in a foreign country. They pop up in our inboxes, and standard procedure is to delete on sight. But what happens when you reply? Follow along as writer and comedian James Veitch narrates a hilarious, weeks-long exchange with a spammer who offered to cut him in on a hot deal.

Did you know that you’re 30 times more likely to laugh if you’re with somebody else than if you’re alone? Cognitive neuroscientist Sophie Scott shares this and other surprising facts about laughter in this fast-paced, action-packed and, yes, hilarious dash through the science of cracking up.

• The conceit of Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend is simple and a bit genius. O’Brien welcomes on guests for a 30-ish minute chat. The guests are all celebrities that have been on one of O’Brien’s late-night shows. There’s a bit of catching up and story-telling but the thrust of the show is whether O’Brien and his guest can or are friends even though the work in the same industry and are around each other professionally, seemingly, all the time. It’s a hilarious listen every damn time.
• Bertcast is a great listen. Each episode finds Kreischer sitting down with a fellow comedian to shot-the-shit for about two hours. It’s goddamn hilarious and you’ll find yourself laughing out loud while you’re on your run or in your car. Kreischer also does smaller episodes called ‘Open Tabs’ where he riffles through all the open tabs on his computer from the night before. It’s always a delight.
• Joe Rogan’s podcast is one of the most popular in the world. Sometimes this is a dead serious podcast that touches on huge ideas, science, and societal debates. Sometimes it’s a podcast where the biggest names in comedy gather to talk the industry and/or just spend three hours doing their comedy thing.
• “The Science of Laughter” – Hidden Brain (NPR) Summary: This episode looks at the neuroscience, psychology and benefits behind laughter and humor. URL: https://www.npr.org/2021/07/19/1017999363/the-science-of-laughter
• “Humor, Seriously” – Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris Summary: Dan Harris examines how humor can reduce stress, build bonds, and boost resilience. URL: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/humor-seriously
• “Laughing Matters” – The Science of Happiness (UC Berkeley) Summary: Exploring research on the positivity-boosting impacts of engaging humor styles. URL: https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/podcasts/story/laughing_matters
• “The Power of Humor in Life” – Afforded Freedom with Brett Peasley Summary: Guests share how humor helped them through difficult times and cultivate joy. URL: https://www.affordedfreedom.com/podcast/the-power-of-humor-in-life
• “A Humorous Look at Humor Research” – You Are Not So Smart Summary: Unpacking the psychology behind why humans developed this unique capacity. URL: https://youarenotsosmart.com/2023/03/13/yanss-269-a-humorous-look-at-humor-research/
• Why Humor Matters for Happiness (The Science of Happiness Podcast) Humor can help us with stress, anxiety, and feeling more connected to others. But is humor connected to mindfulness? And how can we find more of it?

Meditation for humor

• Bringing Kindness to Yourself @ Insight Timer
• Kindness to Self Using the Breath @ Insight Timer
• Loving Kindness with Meg Levie @ SIYLI
• Loving-Kindness Meditation @ Greater Good
• A Loving-Kindness Meditation to Boost Compassion @ Mindful

Read more on meditation and kindness:

• Does Mindfulness Meditation Really Make You Kinder?
• Why Loving-Kindness Takes Time: includes a 45 minute guided meditation by Sharon Salzberg
• 18 Science-Based Reasons to Try Loving-Kindness Meditation Today!