A few weeks ago, I went to a haunted theme park with my colleagues. We walked through dim, eerie hallways with costumed actors jumping out at us, and honestly, I was terrified. Even though I logically knew I was perfectly safe, nothing could stop me from screaming my lungs out and using my colleagues as a human shield! But here’s the weird part—when I wasn’t screaming, I was laughing. Nervous laughter, sure, but still laughter. And once we made it out, I couldn’t help but wonder: Why do we laugh? What’s happening in our minds and bodies when we do?
What is laughter?
When you hear a good joke, see something strange, or, like me, get scared at a haunted house, and you begin to laugh, your diaphragm and chest muscles tighten, pushing air out of your lungs. This air flows up through the windpipe and over your vocal cords, vibrating to produce what we know as the sound of laughter. We all love a good laugh, but evolutionarily speaking, why do we laugh? What purpose could it possibly serve?
While laughter might seem like a simple social behaviour, it’s far more complex than that. Studies show that even babies who are blind or deaf begin laughing at roughly the same developmental stage as other babies. Ancient Greek society even created special rituals to celebrate laughter, seeing it as something that could bring humans closer to the gods. At the same time, they recognized laughter's power to shame or ridicule, thus viewing it as a double-edged sword. Today, laughter is recognized as a universal human experience, present across all cultures. But beyond making us feel good, it has profound social and psychological significance.
Theories on why we laugh
People laugh for all kinds of reasons. What cracks one person up might not even make another person smile. Some people laugh when they’re nervous, like during an awkward pause in conversation. Others laugh at silly jokes or, as I learned firsthand, when they’re getting spooked in a haunted house. Laughter clearly means different things in different situations, and because of this, psychologists have developed several theories to explain why we laugh. Here’s some of the most popular ones:
Social Bonding Theory
Have you ever noticed how laughter is more contagious when you're with friends? According to the Social Bonding Theory, laughter isn’t just about the funny stuff—it’s about connecting with others. When we laugh together, it creates a sense of unity and helps us feel like we belong. It’s a way of saying, “We’re in this together,” and can turn strangers into friends faster than you might think.
Relief Theory
Freud had an interesting take on laughter. He believed it was a way to release pent-up tension or nervous energy, especially in awkward or intense situations. Imagine you’re holding your breath during a suspenseful movie, then something funny happens, and you just burst out laughing. That laugh isn’t just about humour—it’s a relief, a way for your mind and body to let go of stress. This theory also helps explain why I kept laughing while in the haunted house. Laughter, in this case, acts like a pressure valve, letting out the steam before we boil over.
Incongruity Theory
The Incongruity Theory suggests we laugh when something unexpected or out of place happens—like a twist in a joke or a surprising outcome. Our brains are constantly trying to make sense of things, so when something breaks our expectations, laughter is our reaction to that “What just happened?” moment. For example, when someone slips and falls unexpectedly, we laugh to deal with this discordance. It’s the brain’s way of processing the unexpected with a light-hearted twist.
Superiority Theory
Another intriguing take on laughter is the Superiority Theory, which shows a different, sometimes darker side of humor. This theory, dating back to philosophers like Plato and Thomas Hobbes, suggests that we often laugh to feel a sense of superiority over others. When we see someone make a silly mistake, experience a minor misfortune, or do something embarrassing, laughter can arise from the feeling that we’re in a better position than they are. Think about those "fail" videos online, where people laugh at others' minor blunders or accidents. The humor here often comes at someone else’s expense, highlighting how laughter can sometimes reinforce social hierarchies or cause embarrassment and shame.
These theories illuminate the complex nature of laughter, revealing how it can draw us together, ease our minds, and help us make sense of the unexpected. Yet laughter also holds a duality, with the power to divide, embarrass, or reinforce social hierarchies. In all its forms, laughter is a deeply human experience—one that speaks to our need for connection, our ways of coping, and the unique ways we respond to the world around us.
Mental health benefits
Laughter is a powerful tool with real psychological benefits. Research shows that laughter can improve mental health in a number of ways. Here are some of the key benefits:
Stress Reduction
Laughter is a natural stress reliever. When you laugh, your body releases feel-good hormones like dopamine and endorphins while decreasing cortisol levels, a stress hormone. Studies have shown that people who laugh regularly tend to have lower baseline cortisol levels, which contributes to an overall improvement in mood and resilience against daily stress. Think of laughter as a quick reset button for the mind!
Pain Management
Believe it or not, laughter can actually increase pain tolerance. This is one reason why humour therapy has gained traction in settings like hospitals and pain clinics. Laughing triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, which can provide short-term relief and increase comfort. It’s a simple but effective way to make tough moments a little easier to handle.
Improved Mental Health
Laughter also has a positive impact on mental health, especially for those struggling with anxiety or depression. When you laugh, you activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation and a sense of calm. Regular laughter can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, providing a boost to emotional well-being. It’s a small act that can have lasting mental health benefits.
Laughter in Mental Health Care
Some therapists even incorporate humour and laughter into their sessions to help clients relax and open up. By using humour, therapists can help clients see situations from new perspectives, making it easier for them to engage in treatment and explore challenging topics. Laughter creates a sense of safety and connection, making therapy feel less intimidating and more enjoyable.
Laughter connects us, helps us cope, and promotes physical and mental well-being. From reducing stress to boosting our sense of community, laughter is a powerful tool that we often take for granted. So next time you find yourself laughing—whether it’s from a joke, something unexpected, or even nervousness in a haunted house—embrace it. That simple act is doing wonders for your mind and body, and it just might be making the world a little brighter.
References
Dunbar, R. I. (2022). Laughter and its role in the evolution of human social bonding. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 377(1863). https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2021.0176
Shurcliff, A. (1968). Judged humor, arousal, and the relief theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 8(4), 360–363. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0025493
Yim, J. (2016). Therapeutic benefits of laughter in mental health: A theoretical review. The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 239(3), 243–249. https://doi.org/10.1620/tjem.239.243
Loved reading about this topic.. So interesting!!
Love, love, love this blog - a fun topic that everyone can apply to their lives! #livelaughlove
Such an Interesting topic!!