Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: ariel on 22/01/2006 21:34:19
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Why do people laugh? (Why did it evolve in humans?)
Why does tickling and humor trigger the same reaction(laughter)?
[:I]
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mmm interesting questions. I'm going to have to have a careful think about these...
Chris
"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
- Groucho Marx
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http://www.wonderquest.com/Tickling.htm
""Darwin was the first to point out that a tickling victim squirms and strains to withdraw the tickled part, to get away from attacks on vulnerable areas such as the soles of the feet, armpits, belly and flank.
If a fly settles on a horse's belly, the horse ripples his skin muscles as a tickled child squirms. But he doesn't laugh.
Children don't always either. "The child will laugh only--and this is the crux of the matter--when it perceives tickling as a mock attack, a caress in mildly aggressive disguise," says the Encyclopedia Britannica.""
http://www.wonderquest.com/Tickling.htm
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Slight divergence from the subject...
What I find interesting is the difference in humour in different cultures. There are some things that people from just about anywhere will laugh at (Schadenfreude is a classic example; almost universally, people find it amusing when others come unstuck). But, although globalisation is gradually breaking down the humour barriers, much humour is culture-specific.
When I lived in Germany many years ago, I went to quite a few cabaret clubs. There was always at least 1 comedian & the majority of the humour was toilet- or fart-based. I have to say that I didn't find it particularly funny, but the Germans were falling about laughing. I spoke pretty good German at the time so it wasn't that I was losing something in translation.
Even in Britain, there seems to be a difference in northern & southern humour. When I've been to clubs up north the comedians have mainly been the old-style gag-telling type, whereas in the south it's more social comment humour that's prevalent.
So, why do some people laugh at certain things whilst others are totally unmoved & vice versa?
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quote:
Originally posted by ariel
Why does tickling and humor trigger the same reaction(laughter)?
[:I]
Not always. If I walk up to a total stranger in the street & tell them a joke, they may laugh. If I tickled them I'd probably get a punch in the mouth [|)]
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quote:
Originally posted by DoctorBeaver
Slight divergence from the subject...
almost universally, people find it amusing when others come unstuck.
Isn't laughter a reaction to the unusual / unacceptable,
baring ones teeth and panting, like a dog snarling / barking at a stranger ?, (i.e. a variant of aggression).
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It is interesting that we do trend to laugh at the misfortunes of others, etc. and, if we are wise enough--to laugh at our own problems. I've heard that some monkey groups show their teeth in a show of defiance to enemies--is it a smile?
Regards,
Doc
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I think I'm right in saying that for most mammals, showing the teeth is a sign of aggression. Humans do it when they snarl.
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It is said that "it is funny if it bends and not so funny if it breaks". I guess we would all laugh if someone slips on a banana peel and than gets up while we stop laughing if the person doesn't get up or is hurt.
Regards,
Doc
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I'd heard it suggested that laughter was a response to broken tension - possibly a signal to others that there's no big deal here, nothing's gone badly wrong.
So for example, if someone slips on a banana skin you'd laugh when you'd decided they *were* going to get up.
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Rosy - what about "nervous laughter"?
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No idea.
Overlaid on the above it's-all-OK laughter for use in social situations where you're trying to convince someone else there's no need to be tense? More than one type of laughter?
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quote:
More than one type of laughter?
Keep going... you're getting there