Why Cheesy Jokes Make Us Laugh

Why are corny, formulaic attempts at humour so popular - that they’ve even caught on with cultural terminologies in the form of "dad jokes" or otherwise?

People laugh at the juxtaposition of incompatible concepts and at defiance of their expectations-that is, at the incongruity between expectations and reality.

The Japanese even have a name for it: oyaji gyagu, a.k.a. corny, dad jokes that young people respond to with a blank stare

These jokes thrive on their simplicity; one doesn't need the perfect punchline, a crafty delivery style, or an endless shelf life.