Doshi and Bhansali: Humor, Mindfulness and Aggression in College Students 378 Indian Journal of Mental Health 2022; 9(4) Original Research Article Humor, Mindfulness and Aggression in College Students Dhruvi Doshi 1 , Neha Bhansali 2 1 Former Student, Maniben Nanavati Women’s College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Maniben Nanavati Women’s CollegeMumbai, Maharashtra, India Corresponding author: Dhruvi Doshi Email – dddoshidhruvi26@gmail.com ABSTRACT Background: The professional courses such as engineering, medical, paramedical and architecture are demanding and intense in nature. Similarly, it is observed that not only do students indulge in aggressive behaviour but also use humour as a coping mechanism. The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between humour, mindfulness and aggression and also to assess if these variables had an effect on the participants gender and the courses they were enrolled in. Methodology: The sample consisted of 80 people between 18 to 25 years of age who were enrolled in professional courses (such as, engineering, architecture, medical and paramedical) from Maharashtra, India. The scales used were the Sense of Humour Scale (SOH), Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and Brief Aggression Questionnaire (BAQ). Results: A significant low positive correlation was observed between SOH and BAQ and a significant moderate negative correlation was observed between BAQ and MAAS. However, an insignificant relationship was found between SOH and MAAS. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed in males and females for mindfulness and aggression. However, a difference was found in males and females for sense of humour. Another test result represented no significant differences between the participants enrolled in engineering, architecture and healthcare courses in consideration with sense of humour, mindfulness and aggression. Conclusion: This study stated that an increase in sense of humour leads to an increased level of aggression whereas, an increase in mindfulness would lead to a decrease in the level of aggression. However, no significance was found between humour and mindfulness. Key words: sense of humour, mindfulness, aggression, engineering, architecture, healthcare. (Paper received – 5 th August 2022, Peer review completed – 15 th September 2022) (Accepted – 1 st October 2022) INTRODUCTION According to McGhee, humour incorporates a general attitude of playfulness and a coinciding ability to play on ideas. The cognitive ability to manipulate and reframe ideas playfully enables individuals with a sense of humour to view unpleasant events as funny instead of frightening, annoying, or stressful [1]. Martin and Ford explain that humour is not unique to certain personalities rather people express it in their daily lives in ways that reflect their broader personalities [2]. Alongside, it is an as a coping mechanism in stressful, difficult or even awkward situations. Furthermore, it plays an important role in forming social bonds as well as attract a mate in some cases [3]. According to the superiority theory of humour, people tend to laugh about others misfortune and look down on them by judging their inferiority. This not only helps develop a sense of joy and a feeling of being superior to others but is also a display of self-ignorance [4]. On the other hand, the Relief theory studied by Sigmund Freud states that humour serves to facilitate relief [5]. According to Brown and Ryan, mindfulness is an open or receptive awareness of and attention to what is taking place in the present [6]. It includes maintaining moment by moment awareness of our thoughts and