This article explores the science and philosophy of laughter—its genetic roots, psychological theories, and profound benefits for mental and physical health
B L Razdan
Life is equally easy and strenuous to one and all. Life does not discriminate on the basis of gender, colour, geography, religion, etc. So then how is it that one’s life is very different, in terms of how strenuous it is, from that of the other? It definitely is a result of the way we handle life, or rather, the way we respond to various tests life throws at us. Right from our birth, life continuously throws such tests at us. Based on how one responds to each such test, the next one would be thrown at you, and so on. Is there a secret sauce to handle these tests? The answer to that question is a ‘big yes’ – one that would spice up the dish of your life!
We tend to underestimate this most freely available and important aspect in our lives, humour. Some of us are lucky enough to be born with this skill, and others can surely adopt and adapt it and make our journey truly enjoyable. Humour is the one thing which is enjoyed by all, irrespective of age, gender, profession, geography, etc. If there is one thing that can bind us all together, it is not money, not climate change, not war, not jobs, it is humour, something which can always generate a positive and happy environment around you. Even the most difficult situations in our lives can be handled with ease if we are armoured with a sense of humour. Imagine how enjoyable and happy the world would be if all of us decided to contribute our bit in terms of humour.
There is a strong link between laughter and mental health. Laughter stops distressing emotions. You can’t feel anxious, angry, or sad when you’re laughing. Laughter helps you relax and recharge. It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more. Laughter shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and diffuse conflict. Laughter draws you closer to others, which can have a profound effect on all aspects of your mental and emotional health.
Unfortunately, this is not an inborn trait in a huge majority of us. So, what do we do to ensure that humour is a part and parcel of our everyday lives? We should start by adding humour within our family, and then extend it towards society outside. The more it spreads, the wider will be the reach of positive and happy feelings for all concerned.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, research suggests that people who are more resilient to life’s challenges tend to be happier and healthier. “A hearty laugh may decrease blood pressure, help regulate heart rhythm and just provide an element of joy, that elusive factor in well-being,” says Dr Creagan. In fact, laughter may have a positive impact on nearly your entire body — it may benefit your immune system and respiratory function, aid muscle relaxation, assist with pain relief, and stimulate circulation. Laughter also may have a role in the process of healthy ageing. In a group of over 14,000 older adults, research found that people who laughed less were more likely to develop a functional disability. Meanwhile, another small study reported that laughter therapy reduced insomnia and improved overall well-being in the elderly. Simply put, laughter is often an important component of not just how long someone lives, but how well they live.
Mark Twain said, “Humour is the great thing, the saving thing after all. The minute it crops up, all our hardnesses yield, all our irritations, and resentments flit away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.” He’s certainly not wrong. Humour may very well be the great thing. It touches upon nearly every facet of life — 90% of men and 81% of women report that a sense of humour is the most important quality in a partner, it’s a crucial quality for leaders, and it has even been shown to improve cancer treatment. There’s no doubt that humour is a life skill that everybody needs, but how do we define it? Can it be taught?
The best way to kill a joke is to explain it, but psychologists have tried to do so anyhow. There are three main theories on what humour is and where it comes from. The Relief theory argues that laughter and humour are ways of blowing off psychological steam, a way to release psychic energy. That’s why jokes told at funerals are often met not with silence, as a sombre occasion such as that might merit, but with uproarious laughter instead. The Superiority theory, originally formulated by Plato and Aristotle to explain a specific kind of humour, relates to our laughter at others’ misfortunes. In this theory, humour is a means of declaring one’s superiority over others. The Incongruity theory argues that humour arises when two contrasting, distinct ideas are mingled. Humour often subverts expectations, and punchlines are often the result of an unexpected reversal.
According to actor John Cheese, to teach viewers how to hone their sense of humour to improve the quality of life and creative intelligence. Every human has an innate sense of humour, of course, but it’s pretty evident that not everybody has a good sense of humour. Learning about theories of humour, while interesting and insightful, doesn’t guarantee that one’s ability to deliver a punchline will improve in any measurable degree. It would be distressing to learn about humour’s many benefits only to discover that it’s an entirely product of genetics. There certainly seems to be some genetic component, at least; researchers have linked a sense of humour to certain variants of the 5-HTTLPR gene.
The benefits of a good sense of humour are so profound that colleges such as Stanford are offering business courses on humour in the workplace. Teaching students how “to achieve business objectives, build more effective and innovative organisations, cultivate stronger bonds, and capture more lasting memories” is the aim. It doesn’t stop there, though. The professors believe humour has the power to “make and scale positive change in the world.”
Still, psychologists are divided on whether humour is an innate or learnable trait. There’s no such thing as a completely humourless individual — comedy is a fundamental part of human nature. In the past, we believed that only some cultures developed humour, but this belief has changed, as no culture has ever been found that was devoid of laughter and comedy. So, if you want to improve your sense of humour, trying to look on the funny side of life won’t hurt. The worst-case scenario is that you’ll laugh a little more.
Laughter may even help you to live longer. A study in Norway found that people with a strong sense of humour outlived those who don’t laugh as much. The difference was particularly notable for those battling cancer.
The physical health benefits of humour include boosting immunity, lowering stress hormones, decreasing pain, relaxing muscles, and preventing heart disease. The mental health benefits include adding joy and zest to life, easing anxiety and tension, relieving stress, improving mood and strengthening resilience. And the social benefits include strengthening relationships, attracting others, enhancing teamwork, helping defuse conflict and promoting group bonding.
Laughter helps you stay mentally healthy. Laughter makes you feel good. And the positive emotions remain with you even after the laughter subsides. Humour helps you keep a positive, optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss.
More than just a respite from sadness and pain, laughter gives you the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult of times, a laugh–or even simply a smile–can go a long way toward making you feel better. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your brain and readies you to smile and join in the fun.
Bhushan Lal Razdan, formerly of the Indian Revenue Service, retired as Director General of Income Tax (Investigation), Chandigarh. Post-retirement, he is actively associated with medical, educational, cultural and heritage issues and joined various societies and trusts to promote these objectives. Occasionally, he contributes articles of contemporary relevance in Newspapers and Magazines. He is also Chairman of Vitasta Health Care Trust.
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