Here’s a list of ten reasons why. Because when we laugh, when we really laugh, deep from the belly… we feel alive! If we want to be happier, healthier, and more productive we seriously need to make time to laugh. Even today, TV sit-coms never lose their popularity all over the world. Laughter is a good thing. People enjoyed attending a play like comedy since ancient times. However, the answer to why we laugh is far more complicated. Laughter and humor trigger the brain’s emotional and reward centers, releasing dopamine, which helps the brain to process emotional responses and enhances the experience of pleasure; serotonin, which lifts moods; and endorphins which regulates pain and stress and induces euphoria. 9 Ways to Take Back Your Power, Practical Journaling Tips For Beginners To Kickstart, How to Learn at Work in the Most Effective Way Possible. Barbara, a resident of Grand Haven, was a presenter at TEDxMuskegon 2013. We laugh when we’re happy and we cry when we’re sad, but sometimes it’s not always black and white. Now I know that when I think about doing it and don’t, that I have lost my perspective. Humour, comedy and jokes do seem to be very important to humans: as far as we … Why Do We Laugh? It’s delightful and hilarious but leads to the question, just why do babies laugh like this? We know that other animals laugh too (which is the only objective measure we have of this, not like we can ask them if it was funny). We should laugh at the absurdity of it all and revel in both our positive and negative characteristics -- they're what make us unique. As children, we used to laugh hundreds of times a day, but as adults, life tends to be more serious and laughter more infrequent. 7 Actionable Ways To Help You Get Back on Track, 25 Memory Exercises That Actually Help You Remember More, 12 Simple Ways to Boost Your Confidence Right Now, 10 Amazing Health Benefits Of Beer You Probably Never Knew, 15 Funny Idioms You May Not Know (And What They Actually Mean), Great Leaders Remember to Offer These 10 Things All The Time, 19 Fun Activities for Seniors to Stay Active Physically and Mentally, When to Worry about Eye Twitching – You Could be Stirring it Unknowingly. Here are a few scientific reasons. She is an ordained interfaith minister who has led pilgrimages to the Five Holy Peaks of Taoism in China. What we do know so far is that laughter can act as a form of bonding or attraction, may be used to ease tense or awkward situations, and can be explained in biological terms. I guess everyone does. But by seeking out more opportunities for humor and laughter, you can improve your emotional health, strengthen your relationships, find … Here’s a suggestion. Laughter levels the relationship playing field and can even give you an edge—because, again, people like people who make them laugh. We laugh because we feel like it, because our brains make us, and because we want to fit in socially. We like the feeling of shared laughter and our body wants as much of this feeling as possible. Life is a series of ups and downs. Sony Pictures . Humor succeeds because we take joy in this process, which is why a bored mind is a humorless mind. Too often I take myself far too seriously. The good news is that even if some of our needs were not met in chidhood, we still have our whole adult life to make up for it (although it certainly won't take that long if you follow the exercises in the Brain Coaching Program ;-)) All these things are true. It's a theory that traces back to philosophers like Plato, Aristotle and Hobbes, who were just a few of the great thinkers who have have attempted to understand and explain why people laugh at the misfortunes of others. 2. The reason why we can’t tickle ourselves is that the human body ignores the stimulus from us often. And you know what else? We've all heard the claim that 'laughter is the best medicine.'. One challenge arising from viewing humor as a social and psychological phenomenon is that it’s not easily measured. Laughter is a common part of our lives, but why do we like to laugh? Ghostbusters and why we like to laugh at things that go bump in the night July 7, 2016 3.53am EDT. It improves emotional health. Something freaky this way comes. But first, just take a minute to watch this video. Why do we laugh? If we want to be happier, healthier, and more productive we seriously need to make time to laugh. The Science of When We Laugh and Why [Basic Books, $26.99], my favorite experiment involved the British researcher Richard Wiseman's search for the funniest joke in the world. He asked over a million people to rate their favorite jokes, and the experiment was great because it included lots of examples, some silly (What's brown and sticky? One study showed that people who are able to laugh -- rather than being embarrassed or angry in certain situations -- tend to have fewer heart attacks and better blood pressure, says Stuber. Did you know that you're 30 times more likely to laugh if you're with somebody else than if you're alone? Start looking for more reasons to laugh today. It increases the circulation of antibodies in the blood stream and makes us more resistant to infection. If I am able to laugh with you in my mistakes as well as with you in yours, it suggests we are all flawed and imperfect. The latest research, which we'll look at in a minute, comes to unexpected conclusions. Do you like having a good laugh? It catches us by surprise and we respond with laughter. Reed said that more research is needed to prove if this is, in fact, why we laugh, as well as other species who have exhibited signs of laughter, such as rats, dogs, and primates. 5 Steps to Bounce Back Fast When Life Knocks You Down, How to Get over Your Self-Defeating Thoughts and Behaviors, Feeling Defeated? The next time you’re in the middle of an argument, start laughing – not in a derogatory tone, but in the jovial sense of being in on a good joke. Laughter clearly serves a social function. Did you know that you're 30 times more likely to laugh if you're with somebody else than if you're alone? Laughter helps us to transcend ourselves, and I need that help. When you laugh there’s a contraction of muscles, which increases blood flow and oxygenation. Why do you think that sense of humor is such an important trait when looking for a partner? They have reduced stress. Become a partner/affiliate today, Marketing Coaching that SKYROCKETS Your Business, SDN EP: 109 – Energized Client Culture with Cara Bell, SDN EP: 107 – How to Run Your Business With Less Stress, SDN EP: 106 – How To Build A Billion Dollar Blog. But there are lots of ways to enjoy life. More information is available at thesexminister.com or barbaraleeauthor.com, How To Get Rich, Obsessed and Happy | Patrick Allmond. This is called sensory attenuation. Cognitive neuroscientist Sophie Scott shares this and other surprising facts about laughter in this fast-paced, action-packed and, yes, hilarious dash through the science of cracking up. In a recent study at the Indiana State University, researchers found that laughter can not only reduce stress, … It proposes that we laugh at people to assert our superiority over them - in other words, when a person is made to look silly it makes us feel better about ourselves. 1. But even when things are as bad as we think they are, laughter helps create positive emotions and helps us find a frame of mind in which we can more easily cope with the struggles of life. Scientists tell us that laughter, humor and joy are an important part of life. Researchers says that people who love to laugh are healthier and happier. It occurs spontaneously and unexpectedly. ... We like routines, anything that deviates will pop out. Using 'Laugh Therapy'. “When you laugh with people, you show them that you like them, you agree with them, or that you are in same group as them,” she says. Her books include Sacred Sex: Replacing the Marriage Ethic with a Sexual Ethic and Tension in the Tank: Embracing Interfaith Mysticism Without Leaving the Church. It is a way for us to signal to another person that we wish to connect with them. We Are Looking For Featured Contributors. Laughter is a lot like changing a baby’s diaper. Do You Know Restaurant Menus Are Shaping Your Dining Habit? We want to be with people who can make us laugh, especially if they can help us laugh at the things and situations that cause us stress, anxiety or despair. The reasons are deeply rooted in the society in which we live, and laughter is connected to cultural norms, tradition, history, and many other factors that are difficult to understand. He says the laughter can come in different types, like “Ha-ha-ha” or “Ho-ho-ho”, but not a mixture of the two types. How to Spend Hours at the Computer and Still Stay Healthy, 17 Power Pressure Cooker Recipes for Rushed Weeknight Meals, 13 Brain Healthy Foods That Keep Your Brain Sharp Naturally, 25 Healthy Snacks for Work: Decrease Hunger and Increase Productivity, How to Drink More Water Easily When It Seems Like a Major Chore, Feeling Defeated in Life? Written by Simone Natale, Loughborough University. And in that grace, we are able to recognize the folly of our own pursuits. Want to help others? 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