If smiling was the first step in connecting people then laughter would have the ultimate bonding power. Genuinely having fun and laughing with someone creates a special connection and brings us closer to each other. Laughter is highly contagious and humour works as the perfect icebreaker. Laughing is the ultimate anti-stress strategy and so much more...
The lying laugh Not all laughter was created equal. Do you remember the last time you were laughing so hard you almost forgot to breathe? This is the involuntary type of laughter and it means that you were genuinely having fun. The more genuine the laughter is, the more contagious is gets. There is, however, also another type of laughter and this one is not so much fun. You might be familiar with the voluntary laughter from a number of different social situations. You’re talking to someone but you are not really enjoying the conversation. The person tells a joke and you laugh to be polite.
Fortunately or unfortunately, people are pretty good at distinguishing the fake laughter from the real one. Our brains respond to the sounds in different ways. The polite laughter activates the parts in your brain, which make you think about what the other person is thinking. You are basically trying to figure out why the other person is laughing. And what’s even more interesting, the older you get, the better you get at spotting the fake laughter.
Different types of laughter are perfectly normal across different species as well. Research shows that even chimpanzees laugh differently when they’re with friends and when they’re being tickled! Laughter also revealed why chimpanzees cannot talk, while humans can. The reason is breath control. Pity, I always wanted a talking chimpanzee as a pet… #lifegoals
Multi-emotional expression Laughter is a crucial part of human interaction. However, it’s not always about fun. You surely know from your own experience that laughter is not only a part of joy, amusement or affection but might also be accompanied by sadness, fear or shame. While laughing with someone might make you a new friend, laughing at someone can drive people further apart~.
Knock, knock…. Why is it that we find certain things funnier than others? What exactly makes us laugh? The science of jokes is deeply rooted in the element of surprise. You are following a simple story and then comes… the punchline. It’s about defying expectations. You surely know that a joke, which you’ve heard a thousand times is not funny anymore. There is nothing left to surprise you. If however, you find the joke understandable and it surprises you with an unexpected twist, you laugh.
The ROFL Therapy Laughing is healthy! It releases endorphins, helps you relax and relieves tension. It even has the power to boost your immune system and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. I will be waiting for the day when my doctor recommends going to see a stand-up comedy show at least once a week to improve my blood flow and blood vessel function. The reward systems in our brain also get activated when we laugh. Dopamine and serotonin levels increase and we feel happier.
Dating with a sense of humour Humans first laughed before they learned how to speak. From an evolutionary standpoint, it is suggested that laughing served the function of determining social context and indicated acceptance of an individual in a group. So we’ve established that laughter is a way for people to bond. But when it comes to dating, there is much more to laughter than that! Research suggests that while men prefer women who laugh at their jokes, women preferred men who made them laugh. Women also laugh more in general when they’re around men who they find attractive and interesting. So gentlemen, the trick is relatively simple – to impress a girl, make her laugh.
What would life be without laughter? We love to laugh and very understandably so! Laughing is a way for us to develop social bonds. It also acts as a stress reducer and regulates our emotions in social situations. Laughing releases endorphins and makes us feel happier. It increases relaxation and well-being. In this world, it’s psychologically safer to have a sense of humour. It's highly recommended. Laugh as genuinely and as often as you can.
Sources:
http://wpmedia.vancouversun.com/2009/03/extra1.pdf
https://hms.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/HMS_OTB_Spring10_Vol16_No2.pdf
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/bc4d/df0dffdcae9e9e5d32b2318656677ecffd6d.pdf