I believe that humour is an important part of many relationships, and sadly, its importance is often overlooked. Many great friendships are built on humour, and humour can also help break the ice between new acquaintances. You need look no further than schoolchildren to see the importance of humour in social settings. Apart from informal settings, humour also has a place in formal settings – it reduces stress and builds rapport. Furthermore, aside from humour’s immediate effect of mirth, it is also a good indicator of other qualities present in a relationship: trust, authenticity and understanding.