The Effects of Laughter & The Human Connection
First of all, I have learned from my research that laughter is not the same as humor. Laughter is the physiological response to humor. In addition, laughter consists of two parts – a set of facial gestures and the production of a “ha-ha-ha” or a “ho-ho-ho” sound from our mouths. When we laugh, the brain pressures us to conduct both of these activities simultaneously. And, when we laugh heartily, changes can occur in many parts of our bodies including the arm, the leg, and trunk muscles.
Many researchers believe that the purpose of laughter is related to establishing and strengthening human connections. I am sure all of us have noticed that laughter creates attention and occurs when people are feeling comfortable with one another. Consequently, laughter creates a contagious reaction and the more laughter there is, the more bonding occurs within a group of people. A sort of human connection among strangers in a group situation results and forms what researchers call a “feedback loop” as the people within the group start to interact and a sense of freedom develops. We can use our classroom at The Women’s College as an example of the “feedback loop” model. Our instructor, Carol Zak-Dance serves as a stimulus while presenting her topic of discussion, next, a TWC student interprets her message as funny, then, another TWC student relates a funny experience, Carol acknowledges and responds to that student’s experience and contagious laughter follows, bonding among classmates occurs as a result, a sort of Comfort Zone develops, more bonding occurs; and, finally, everyone in the class participates and feels comfortable in becoming part of the group discussion.
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...ure out what makes you laugh and just do it! Watch funny movies and read the
comic strips.
• Surround yourself with funny people – be with them every chance you get!
• Develop your own sense of humor, become a comedian and by all means, laugh at
yourself!
• Be funny every chance you get as long as it is not at someone else’s expense!
Bibliography
Gruner, Charles R. (1997). The game of humor – A comprehensive theory of why we laugh, Chapter 7 (Superiority Theory & Relief Theory). New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.
Morreall, John (1983). Taking laughter seriously, Pages 61-65 (Incongruity Theory). Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, Albany Press.
Piddington, Ralph (1963). The psychology of laughter, Chapters 1 & 2. New York: Gamut Press.
Tamblyn, Doni (2002). Laugh and learn, Pages 36-43. New York: AMACOM Books.
Although modern science has allowed us to develop many complex medicines, laughter is still the strongest one available in the real world and in the book. Laughter proves to be a strong medicine in more ways than one and is completely free, allowing anyone to use it at anytime. It allows us to connect socially with people, it can be used as a way of overthrowing power, and it is good for your health. As Randle McMurphy showed in the novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, laughter can lighten the mood in the darkest situations.
In conclusion, Merrill Markoe portrayed high comedy using witty humor along with situational irony in the short story “A Conversation With My Dogs”. She does this while also reaching the moral of the story, which is that with some people or animals you have to be super specific or else they won’t understand what you are trying to say. I have experienced this with some people, including my mom who is often focused on her work. The combination of witty humor and situational irony makes the audience
Humor has become one of the most popular tools for stress relief. Positive effects of laughter include reduced muscle tension, controlled anxiety, the ability to handle unexpected events, and simply the joy of humor. It is important for managers to allow employees to have fun. We spend the majority of our lives at work and we need to enjoy the experience.
Try as much as possible to be wholly alive, with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell and when you get angry, get good and angry.
Laughter is an interesting topic. Mainly because of the lack of thought that goes with it as to why we laugh. In an article titled Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic by Henri Bergson, the theory behind why things are funny is explored. He mentions many different things in his article pertaining to the comic, however, there are a few that stand out more than others. He talks directly about the fact that things are only funny if they relate to humans. Then he touches on the idea that accidents are funnier than planned events. Finally, he speaks on laughter being directly related to social setting. The 1992 film Noises Off is a perfect demonstration of everything that Bergson writes about. Henri Bergson’s essay on laughter is perfectly supported by the film Noises Off.
3. Apte, Mahadev L. Humor and Laughter: An Anthropological Approach. Ithaca, NY: Cornell UP, 1985.
Laughter is a therapeutic form. In the novel One flew over the cuckoo’s nest by Ken Kesey laughter represents freedom and an escape from nurse Ratched’s restrictions.
Psychologists, sociologists and anthropologists study humor because it is a fundamental culture value, but they still can’t determine why certain things make some people laugh and others not. There are “humor quotient” tests that are designed to measure an individual’s sense of humor, but these tests are questionable. These tests aren’t accurate because almost all humor depends on cultural background knowledge and language skills. Not every person in the whole world, or even in one country share the same background knowledge and skills, therefore they cannot have the same type of humor. “The fact remains that individuals vary in their appreciation of humor” (Rappoport 9). Since humor varies from individual to individual, humor lies in the individual. How successful or funny a joke is depends on how the person receives the joke, humor cannot be measured by a statistical
There have been many theories over the years as to why we laugh. Freud suggested that during laughter, you discharge pent-up psychic energies. In a theory by V.S. Ramachandran, we laugh to alert others in the social group that an anomaly, whatever it is we are laughing at, is inconsequential. For example, if someone falls and is not hurt, we laugh to signal to others that the person is all right. The theories vary greatly, but there are so many attributes to the phenomenon o...
When one laughs, a public expression of feelings is being made. One’s guard is let down, and the act of laughing and the emotion that catalyzed it often appears to leave the immediate control of the laugher. Ironically, the more inappropriate the situation, the more full bodied and unstoppable one’s laughter can become. Both Minnie of “Dry September” and Nancy of “That Evening Sun” laugh at seemingly ill-timed occasions.
Humour is an universal human characteristic which all cultures posses. In the British society it is important to have humour, because it is seen as demonstration of health and well being. Humour firstly appeared in British literature during the Middle Ages, when Chaucer developed the storytelling tradition along with the ironies that resulted from the juxtaposition of people from different classes and points of view. Britain’s ancient class system has always been a mystery to strangers and a great source of humour fascination. In the past, the British were expected to “know their place”. This means that British people accepted their status as working-class, middle-class or upper-class, according to their social status and behave
Laughter is part of the universal human vocabulary. All members of the human species understand it. Unlike English, French, or Swahili, one does not have to learn to speak it. We’re born with the capacity to laugh.
If there is one way to bring a smile to someone’s face, it is laughter. Funny jokes, comical stunts, sarcasm- Every person is different when it comes to what makes them laugh. Some find dry humor comical. Others think sarcasm or joke-filled ranting are the best. ‘Comedy’ is such a broad term, broad enough to allow everyone to find something they find comical. In fact, ‘comedy’ includes a specific type of drama, one where the protagonist is joyful and happy endings are expected. Comedy is like a drug; it allows you to escape reality. When we say the word ‘comedy’ in the present, we are generally referring to a type of performance which provides humor. However, in its broadest sense, comedy has only one purpose: comedy makes people smile and
Humor is the tendency to look at things from the mirthful or incongruous side. It is the quality that makes something laughable or amusing. Humor is the ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is amusing or comical. It is the source of laughter and the catalyst of smiles. Humor is the spark that lights our eyes as well as the cause of tears that never grows old. Humor is a state of mind.
By creating some facial expressions to others, it can communicate with others in humorous ways so that they can feel good about themselves. Also, facial expressions can be another universal language that you used on your face. Some facial expressions can be practical jokes to find it enjoyable to other people. It also brings the humor and laughing more easily to people, especially babies who started their first signs of mirth. “ Babies show their first signs of mirth within the first five weeks of life when they begin smiling in response to their parents' silly facial expressions.” (Price) It’s also varied many themes of laughter that can make them superiority. “All of the many variations on the theme of laughter as an expression of pleasure at feeling superior to whose appear uglier, stupider, or more unfortunate than ourselves.” (Rappoport) For making a facial expression, it can get the ideas on amusement in both smiling and get the sense of humor. As I discussed the humor in the enjoyment by creating facial expressions, there are other ideas that the humor can come through enjoyment by watching some comedy shows and