People are born to smile, and they often laugh in their daily lives, sometimes without stopping, making it difficult to even speak. But as the saying goes, “laughter is the best medicine,” so laughing more actually benefits both physical and mental health. So, why do people laugh?
According to the magazine “Scientific American,” people from various cultures laugh, and they start laughing from a very young age. Babies start smiling at around 3 months old, even before they learn to speak.
As for why people laugh, there are several reasons to explore. Firstly, laughter can indicate a desire to connect with others.
Researchers have studied thousands of instances of laughter and found that the person speaking is 46% more likely to laugh during a conversation than the listener. When we are with others, our likelihood of laughing is 30 times higher compared to being alone.
Another study found that children aged 2.5 to 4 are 8 times more likely to laugh when watching cartoons with other children compared to watching alone.
Using laughter to demonstrate an intention to build relationships is important for survival. When encountering strangers, we often think: What are their intentions towards me? Friend or foe?
In a study covering 24 different societies involving 966 participants, researchers played short recordings of two people laughing together. These two people could be good friends or strangers.
Participants were asked to listen to these laughter samples and judge the closeness of the two laughing individuals. The results showed that participants could accurately identify whether the laughing individuals were strangers or close friends just by hearing the laughter.
These results demonstrate the connection between genuine laughter and friendship, and how forced laughter cannot deceive people when hearing someone else’s joke.
Another theory suggests that laughter can further promote connections between people, similar to how primates groom each other. However, laughter can occur on a larger scale within communities and provide more immediate feelings. When we genuinely laugh, we are signaling a sense of ease and belonging.
Cognitive neuroscientist Professor Sophie Scott from University College London and senior researcher at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) and adjunct professor at the University of Parma, Fausto Caruana, wrote on The Conversation website that most laughter occurs during conversations, sometimes even being contagious.
Studies indicate that when we see or hear others laughing, it almost automatically triggers our laughter, thus enhancing connections between people.
We often use laughter to express agreement and understanding, strengthen friendships, such as when reminiscing about the past. Furthermore, we also use laughter to relieve stress.
In everyday conversations, common laughter occurs approximately 6 times every 10 minutes. These laughs are short-lived, low in tone, and often come and go quickly.
As people say, laughter is the best medicine. The well-known US medical institution Mayo Clinic points out that laughter has many health benefits.
In the short term, laughing can alleviate stress and tension and stimulate multiple organs. Laughing helps intake oxygen-rich air, stimulating the heart, lungs, and muscles. Laughter can also prompt the brain to release endorphins, creating a sense of pleasure.
In the long term, laughing helps strengthen the immune system, reduce pain, enhance personal satisfaction, and uplift mood. Many people suffer from depression, sometimes triggered by chronic illnesses. Laughter helps alleviate stress, depression, and anxiety, making people happier and boosting self-esteem.
The clinic suggests that developing a sense of humor can make you laugh more. You can be around people who make you laugh, share interesting stories or jokes, and laugh together. However, it’s important to distinguish between harmless jokes and actions that may hurt others. Avoid mocking others or deriving pleasure at the expense of others.