Laughter in Detail We laugh almost every day.
Usually, we take laughing for granted.
This article will explore laughter a little more deeply.
Laughter is an outward expression of and inward feeling of joy, humor, or excitement.
Think about the last time you laughed.
Hopefully it was today.
Laughter can ensue from jokes, pictures, uncomfortable situations, and even-don't forget-tickling.
Modern research shows that some infants have vocal sounds similar to laughter at only 17 days old! Wow, just two weeks old and an infant tries to laugh.
This illustrates a great point-laughter is a universal human language.
Step aside, math! Laughter is wayyyy cooler than numbers! But seriously, infants can laugh, deaf and blind people can laugh, and people can share a laugh even if they don't understand each other's language.
Laughter researcher Robert Provine maintains that laughter and sense of humor can be genetic.
He studied the case of "the giggle twins," two happy twins who were separated at birth.
When they re-united some 43 years later, Provine reported that neither of them had ever met someone who laughed as hard as they did.
The twins had different parents but had the same laugh pattern and the same humor style.
Interesting.
Laughter may also be the best medicine-at least it may be good medicine for your heart.
A study out of the university of Maryland showed that bouts of laughter increase the endothelium, which increases oxygen-rich bloodflow.
You can find the study here.
Laughter is also a social lubricant, a de-stressor, and it just makes you feel all-around good and giddy.
Causes of Laughter Common causes of laughter are occasions of joy and humor, or sometimes uncomfortable situations and tickling, though there are other causes of laughter as well.
Each person has a unique sense of humor.
The Relief Theory The relief theory is a general theory that explains laughter.
Sigmund Freud said that when we laugh, we release psychic energy, which supports laughter being beneficial for health.
It also explains why sometimes we laugh to cope, when we are upset.
Another explanation of laughter errs on the side of biology.
(Remember, infants can begin to laugh at 17 days old.
) When we laugh, according to some schools of thought, we are also signaling the passing of danger.
For example, many jokes create inconsistencies.
When we figure out the inconsistency, when we figure out the "cognitive riddle" and realize that the inconsistency is not dangerous, we can laugh out of relief.
If we do not get the joke (inconsistency), we don't laugh.
Sometimes there are situations when the inconsistency is resolved, there is no danger, and we do not laugh.
Think: an unfunny joke.
In addition, the intensity inconsistency (and perceived danger) can vary.
This has to do with timing, tone, or rhythm and the like.
This often determines how hard and how long we laugh.
Modern neuropsychology confirms this.
In conclusion, laughter is a most enjoyable experience and we often take it for granted.
Who knew that a simple laugh could be so complex?
Usually, we take laughing for granted.
This article will explore laughter a little more deeply.
Laughter is an outward expression of and inward feeling of joy, humor, or excitement.
Think about the last time you laughed.
Hopefully it was today.
Laughter can ensue from jokes, pictures, uncomfortable situations, and even-don't forget-tickling.
Modern research shows that some infants have vocal sounds similar to laughter at only 17 days old! Wow, just two weeks old and an infant tries to laugh.
This illustrates a great point-laughter is a universal human language.
Step aside, math! Laughter is wayyyy cooler than numbers! But seriously, infants can laugh, deaf and blind people can laugh, and people can share a laugh even if they don't understand each other's language.
Laughter researcher Robert Provine maintains that laughter and sense of humor can be genetic.
He studied the case of "the giggle twins," two happy twins who were separated at birth.
When they re-united some 43 years later, Provine reported that neither of them had ever met someone who laughed as hard as they did.
The twins had different parents but had the same laugh pattern and the same humor style.
Interesting.
Laughter may also be the best medicine-at least it may be good medicine for your heart.
A study out of the university of Maryland showed that bouts of laughter increase the endothelium, which increases oxygen-rich bloodflow.
You can find the study here.
Laughter is also a social lubricant, a de-stressor, and it just makes you feel all-around good and giddy.
Causes of Laughter Common causes of laughter are occasions of joy and humor, or sometimes uncomfortable situations and tickling, though there are other causes of laughter as well.
Each person has a unique sense of humor.
The Relief Theory The relief theory is a general theory that explains laughter.
Sigmund Freud said that when we laugh, we release psychic energy, which supports laughter being beneficial for health.
It also explains why sometimes we laugh to cope, when we are upset.
Another explanation of laughter errs on the side of biology.
(Remember, infants can begin to laugh at 17 days old.
) When we laugh, according to some schools of thought, we are also signaling the passing of danger.
For example, many jokes create inconsistencies.
When we figure out the inconsistency, when we figure out the "cognitive riddle" and realize that the inconsistency is not dangerous, we can laugh out of relief.
If we do not get the joke (inconsistency), we don't laugh.
Sometimes there are situations when the inconsistency is resolved, there is no danger, and we do not laugh.
Think: an unfunny joke.
In addition, the intensity inconsistency (and perceived danger) can vary.
This has to do with timing, tone, or rhythm and the like.
This often determines how hard and how long we laugh.
Modern neuropsychology confirms this.
In conclusion, laughter is a most enjoyable experience and we often take it for granted.
Who knew that a simple laugh could be so complex?