In our experience, something that never goes out of style is humor. We wanted to inspire you to embrace comedy this year, so our team at Bored Panda curated this list of the funniest Valentine’s Day gifts you can make or get the love of your life. You might want to take notes because the creativity is through the roof here! Bored Panda wanted to learn about gift-giving and humor in relationships, so we got in touch with Glenn Geher, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the State University of New York at New Paltz and a published author. He walked us through how generosity ties in with our evolved psychology and shared some great insights about the power of creating art together with one’s partner. “Put simply, gift-giving feels good partly because humans thrive on strong, authentic, and often-loving social connections,” he said. “From this perspective, conspicuous gift-giving (like surprising a mate with an Audi sitting in the driveway—adorned with a large red bow) partly evolved for show-related purposes. In fact, behavioral scientists often use the term ‘costly signaling’ for such acts. Conspicuous giving seems to be much more about telling the world about oneself rather than solidifying a bond or showing a partner or friend that you really care,” the psychology professor told us. “This is partly why my amazing wife might not find an Audi with a bow on the driveway this Valentine’s Day (but, of course, anything’s possible!).” “Healthy relationships have various foundational elements. Love and trust, for instance, are certainly in the mix. That said, creativity, often accompanied by humor, is a major player when it comes to all stages of intimate relationships—from initial attraction all the way to maintaining a truly loving relationship,” the professor told Bored Panda. “Without creativity and humor, I suppose a relationship might not necessarily fail, but, on the flip side, the most loving of relationships often include healthy doses of creativity and humor. My wife Shannon and I make a point to create art—in some form or another—together every single day—and I have to say that I wouldn’t trade that part of our relationship for anything,” Dr. Geher opened up to us. But if you’re open to the possibility of February 14 surprising you, you can enjoy it quite a bit… even if you do it semi-ironically. Whether you’re all for or utterly against Valentine’s Day as a concept, gift-giving can be a very powerful way to make someone’s day. On top of that, it’s almost a surefire way to boost your own mood. Human beings are hardwired to be social and generous (to a certain extent). Psychology professor Elizabeth Dunn, Ph.D., from the University of British Columbia, told ‘Today’ that it’s people’s ability to work together and help each other that has allowed us to survive as a species. “We have evolved to actually experience joy from giving to others,” she said. According to research conducted by Dunn and others, people who spend more on others rather than themselves are generally reported to be happier. The actual amount of money spent didn’t matter. This is great news for anyone who’s minding a tight budget or who’s wondering whether they should treat themselves or their loved ones. As a rule of thumb, we’re better off being generous than self-centered. Aside from being generous and embracing comedy this Valentine’s Day, you should also consider what expectations you have for February 14. It’s a very good thing to have high standards, want the best out of life, and be optimistic about your future. However, all of this has to be somewhat grounded in reality. Otherwise, you’re only setting yourself up for disappointment. We don’t need ‘perfection’ because it does not exist outside of our daydreams. It’s far healthier to embrace fun, authenticity, and imperfect romance. Another thing to keep in mind as February 14 inevitably races toward us is why you may be thinking of going all out on the celebration in terms of luxury and romance. Really be honest with yourself about whom you’re doing this for. Is it because you know your partner loves over-the-top gifts and sincerely enjoys getting a dozen red roses? Is it because you want to create a certain impression about yourself? Or is it because you know your friends and coworkers are doing something special, and you want to ‘keep up with the Joneses’? It encourages us to connect with other people and deepen our ties. However, when taken too far, it might mean that someone gives up their personal beliefs to fit in with the crowd. So, if you enjoy humor and frown on luxurious gifts, it’s best to follow your gut instead of worrying that someone might criticize you for not doing ‘enough’ for Valentine’s Day. In the meantime, for some more hilarious and witty February 14 gifts and cards, scroll through Bored Panda’s previous articles. Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
