20 Interesting Facts About Laughter
Sometimes we all need a good laugh to feel a little better. Some people laugh because they watch a classic sitcom or iconic stand-up comedian. Other people laugh at the wrong time, like at a funeral. Then there are those occasions when we try not to laugh at all, such as when a loved one trips and falls.
Laughter is a part of life and something we all do. Despite all the years of laughing, people know very little about the satisfying human emotion. Without laughter, the world would be a drab and sad place. Laughter gets people through tough times and cheers us up when we’re down. There are a few surprising facts about laughter that might make you think, before laughing again. Here’s a look at some interesting facts about laughter.
20 Interesting Facts About Laughter
1. Laughter Isn’t About Jokes
Writing for the BBC, Professor Sophia Scott noted that laughter isn’t about jokes. Despite comedians spending hours crafting the perfect joke, Scott believes humor and jokes have very little to do with laughter. Instead, it has everything to do with social behavior and interactions. Humans usually laugh when there are more people around.
2. Laughter Is Contagious
According to Dr. Robert Provine, humans laugh most when with their friends. However, even when laughing with friends, it’s not jokes or bits that make people laugh. It’s statements or conversations that are not necessarily funny in other circumstances. It’s a form of communication to show people that you relate to and like them.
3. Ha-Ha and He-He
It’s not uncommon for people to hate the sound of their laughter. Well, it turns out that we all pretty much make the same sound. All cultures around the world recognize the syllables “ha-ha,” “he-he,” and “ho-ho” as part of the universal human language.
4. Dark Humor
While some people might not admit it, everyone laughs at a dark joke from time to time. For example, the critically acclaimed HBO series Barry is a dark, twisted, and hilarious comedy that is one of the most popular new shows in recent years full of dark jokes.
Evidence suggests that laughing at dark jokes is good for mental health. Plus, those that laugh at dark humor tend to be highly intelligent.
5. Famous People Are Funnier
Researchers discovered that laughter inspires more laughter. Another main factor is familiarity. Famous stand-up comedians will get laughs due to crowds being familiar with their work and other audience members laughing.
6. Laughter Is Attractive
It’s common for singles to list a sense of humor as a quality they’re looking for in a partner. Evidence proves that most people put a sense of humor ahead of profession, intelligence, and performance in the bedroom. Plus, the more a stranger laughs at our jokes, the more attractive we find them.
7. Laughter and Tension
After a long day of work and stress, the body starts to tense up, leading to muscle knots and back problems. Stress and anxiety often lead to muscle tension resulting in shoulder and back issues. However, a good laugh is a fantastic way to relieve those tense muscles and throbbing back pain. The pain won’t go away, but the laughing will provide some relief.
8. World Record
In India, an unassuming man, Rajendra Kumar, became the pride and joy of the nation when he set an incredible world record for laughing. Of course, this is no laughing matter; it’s serious business.
Kumar made history by destroying the longest consistent laugh at 3 hours and 47 minutes. While Kumar holds the record, the real winner is the person or thing that made him laugh his butt off.
9. Laughter and Heart Health
Laughter really is the best medicine when it comes to physical health. Laughing is good for cardiovascular health, increasing blood flow to the heart. Plus, the risk of a heart attack or heart disease decreases by improving cardiovascular health.
10. Laughter Yoga
Popularized by Dr. Madan Kataria, laughter yoga revolves around the idea that an intentional laugh has the same benefits as an involuntary laugh. Often done in groups, it involves stretching, eye contact, and playfulness. While it usually starts with fake laughter, it ends with genuine laughing.
Yoga and laughter can both relieve pain and stress, thus combining them creates the ultimate yoga class and laughter therapy.
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11. High-Spirited Laugh
The older we get, the more stress and difficult times we face. It’s always important to laugh. In fact, our most high-spirited laugh occurs around the ages of five and six, which happens to be the happiest time in a person’s life.
12. Relationships Last Longer With Laughter
A couple that laughs together stays together. Laughter often strengthens the bond in a relationship. Therefore, couples that laugh have long-lasting relationships. Even in tense situations, couples that smile and laugh show higher levels of happiness.
13. Humans Laughed Before They Spoke
Nowadays, humans can’t stop communicating with each other on cell phones, messaging, and sending emojis. However, scientists speculate that there was a time in human history when laughter was the only way to communicate.
More than ten million years ago, hunters and gatherers didn’t have the lung capacity to speak. Therefore, they’d use laughter to indicate that they weren’t going to cause any harm.
14. Rats and Monkey Laughs
Humans aren’t the only ones that can laugh. Scientists have performed tickle experiments on various monkeys and rats. It’s not a surprise that monkeys like to laugh, but rats are pretty ticklish. Interestingly, rats have very ticklish necks. They even let out a high-pitched squeal when someone tickles their neck.
15. Nervous Laugh
It happens to all of us at one point in life when we’re in an awkward situation. A nervous laugh is a conscious effort to move on from uncomfortable circumstances. Furthermore, nervous laughter is usually a way to protect ourselves from anxiety and fear. With our hearts racing and sweat forming, nervous laughter saves the day.
16. Endorphins
There’s an old saying that laughter is the best medicine. Well, it’s not just a saying. It’s the truth. We feel better after a good laugh because our body releases dopamine. Dopamine is essentially a happiness hormone that improves our mood when we feel sad, lonely, or angry.
17. Laughter Therapy
As noted, laughter is key in dealing with mental health. However, it has physical benefits as well. For instance, patients struggling with a severe illness benefit from laughter therapy. The technique uses fake laughter to deal with stress and pain.
Furthermore, doctors and nurses often use laughing exercises, funny movies, and jokes to get a laugh from their patients. Laughter is excellent for physical and mental health.
18. The Perfect Joke
Comedians and writers spend years working on their jokes and set out to make them perfect. Well, there’s more of a science to it than people realize. In addition to the setup, punchline, and timing, the perfect joke also consists of 103 words, at least according to science.
19. Laughing To Stay Healthy
People are finding different ways to stay healthy. Some people go to the gym or for a walk. However, doctors advise patients to set aside ten to 15 minutes for laughing. Not only is laughing good for mental health but laughing burns roughly 40 calories. Additionally, adults laugh approximately 20 times per day.
20. Laughter Relieves Stress
Anxiety and stress can feel overwhelming at times. One of the best cures is to sit back and watch a funny movie, TV show, or stand-up comedian and have a hearty laugh. In addition to feeling happy, laughing is a good way to de-stress. Laughing is an excellent way to handle stress, anxiety, and depression.
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