The author outlines his 25-year attempt to understand the dynamics of humor. He views humor as the sine qua non of self actualization and maturity. The humorist has an adamant sense of his own significance without having to prove himself better than others or to prove his worth through some role performance. Connections with humankind--past, present, and future--are keenly felt by the humorist. Paradoxes of life must be appreciated for one to be a humorist. The humorist does not repress one pole of a paradox but keeps both extremes open to awareness. His sudden switches between perceptual poles gives the humorist his distinctive smile of "resolution." Several of these paradoxes are illustrated. The "Big Three" of psychoanalysis are brought together by the author in his theory of Humanistic Identification and its relevance for humor. Experiences using sense of humor for staff survival, eventuating in the use of humor as a mode of psychotherapy with the drug addict, are also explored. (Author/MML)