Psychology of Laughter

What is laughter? Laughter is a form of outward expression of amusement, pleasure, mirth and at times, other emotions. It may ensue (as a physiological reaction) from jokes, tickling and other stimuli. Strong laughter can sometimes bring an onset of tears or even moderate muscular pain as a physical response to the act.

It is known that laughter is triggered by various sensations and thoughts, but the exact brain mechanisms aren't fully researched. It is known that while laughing some changes happen in the limbic part of the brain. While laughing, many parts of our body are active - our facial muscles, muscles of the arms, legs and trunk. Laughter also makes our breathing pattern to change. It has been proved that laughing protects our heart. Studies have also shown that laughter lowers the sugar level in our blood.

Many studies have shown that the purpose of laughter is making human connections stronger. Studies have also shown that dominant individuals such as bosses use their humor more often than their employees.
Laughter has many useful benefits that can help people live longer. For example:

* Physical relaxation - Your body sometimes has the urge to laugh or cry... Afterwards, you will feel better.
* Hormones - Levels of stress hormones like cortical or adrenaline are being reduced while laughing.
* Social angle - If you're a laughing kind of person, everyone will want to hang out with you.

Freud in his book Jokes and their relation to the unconscious describes laughter as a release of defensive tension that had been aroused circumstances preliminary to the laugh.

As Bonanno and Keltner have found, bereaved persons who can smile and laugh as they speak about their deceased spouses are judged to be more attractive and appealing to their interviewers than are those who remain solemn. If people can laugh about what had been a difficult or even dreaded experience, they become more approachable. Laughter, smiling, and humor signify that mourners are ready to return to social interaction, making it easier for others to approach them.

To this end, Keltner and Bonanno assert that laughter gives evidence that the bereaved person is becoming more involved in current ongoing social experiences and is in the process of retreating from a life of reminiscence and relationships with deceased persons.

References:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Benefits-Of-Laughter&id=1178214
C.R. Snyder, Shane J. Lopez "Handbook of positive psychology" USA 2005
http://www.liquidelearning.com/uploaded_images/child-laughing-sxc-732315.jpg
http://vintage-urban.blogspot.com/2007/12/time-fly-so-fast-one-year-about-to-gone.html