Benefits of Laughter
The Benefits of Laughter :
Laughing is a reaction to certain stimuli. It may ensue from hearing a joke, being tickled, or other stimuli. Most commonly, it is considered a visual expression of a number of positive emotional states, such as joy, mirth, happiness, relief, etc. However on some occasions it may express other emotions, such as embarrassment, apology or confusion (nervous laughter) or courtesy laugh. Laughter is a part of human behavior regulated by brain, helping humans clarify their intentions in social interaction and providing an emotional context to conversations. Laughter is used as a signal for being part of a group,it signals acceptance and positive interactions with others. Laughter is sometimes seen as contagious, and the laughter of one person can itself provoke laughter from others as a positive feedback. Causes of Laughter:
We all laugh,we all know this sensation that is regulated by the brain, but have you ever asked why do we laugh? What do we think that is so funny, so we start laughing out loud?
There are three theories about what we find funny: the incongruity theory, the superiority theory and the relief theory.
The incongruity theory was elaborated in 1970 by the German philosopher Emmanuel Kant in "The Critique of Judgment". This theory suggests that what causes laughter is the "non-matching" of what we expect to happen and what really happens. When a joke begins, our mind and body anticipates what is about to happen.That anticipation is intertwined with our emotions and past experiences, so, when a joke goes in a different direction we need to switch gears and new emotions invade our brain,we experience two sets of incompatible thoughts. In conclusion, we are laughing out loud!
The superiority theory is based on laughing of somebody's mistake or stupidity. We feel superior to that person so we start laughing.
The relief theory or the release theory was defined by Sigmund Freud. He has a strong argument which holds that
Laughing is a reaction to certain stimuli. It may ensue from hearing a joke, being tickled, or other stimuli. Most commonly, it is considered a visual expression of a number of positive emotional states, such as joy, mirth, happiness, relief, etc. However on some occasions it may express other emotions, such as embarrassment, apology or confusion (nervous laughter) or courtesy laugh. Laughter is a part of human behavior regulated by brain, helping humans clarify their intentions in social interaction and providing an emotional context to conversations. Laughter is used as a signal for being part of a group,it signals acceptance and positive interactions with others. Laughter is sometimes seen as contagious, and the laughter of one person can itself provoke laughter from others as a positive feedback. Causes of Laughter:
We all laugh,we all know this sensation that is regulated by the brain, but have you ever asked why do we laugh? What do we think that is so funny, so we start laughing out loud?
There are three theories about what we find funny: the incongruity theory, the superiority theory and the relief theory.
The incongruity theory was elaborated in 1970 by the German philosopher Emmanuel Kant in "The Critique of Judgment". This theory suggests that what causes laughter is the "non-matching" of what we expect to happen and what really happens. When a joke begins, our mind and body anticipates what is about to happen.That anticipation is intertwined with our emotions and past experiences, so, when a joke goes in a different direction we need to switch gears and new emotions invade our brain,we experience two sets of incompatible thoughts. In conclusion, we are laughing out loud!
The superiority theory is based on laughing of somebody's mistake or stupidity. We feel superior to that person so we start laughing.
The relief theory or the release theory was defined by Sigmund Freud. He has a strong argument which holds that