Why Do We Laugh? Exploring the World of Humour
Written By Hannah Labor
Laughter surrounds us. From birth, it weaves its way into experiences throughout our lives. As infants, we giggle to silly games of peek-a-boo; as teenagers, we laugh in the face of quiet tension in awkward silences; and as adults, we find ourselves laughing with an old group of friends, reminiscing the past. Laughter is universal, transcending language, culture and time. When words may not always suffice, we start to laugh before we can even speak. But why do we laugh – in moments of discomfort, or alone when we know no one else can hear?
Entering the world as a baby, laughter becomes an instinctive part of being human, arriving as early as three months into our newly fleshed life. Whether born deaf or blind, laughter is an unconscious vocalisation embedded into our biology. Evolutionarily speaking, laughter serves a social function. Studies show that we are 30 times more likely to laugh in a group than on our own, serving as a signal for human connection. When we first meet someone, we use laughter to assess a person’s intentions and who else they are aligned with. Interestingly, research highlights the role of laughter in our social bonds. One study involved 966 participants who were played sound bites of simultaneous laughter shared by groups of varying closeness, some close friends and others strangers. Remarkably, they were able to distinguish between these groups based on the sound of their laughter alone. True laughter is reflected in the bonds we share, signalling that we are comfortable and feel like we belong.
Theories explaining why we laugh have evolved over centuries. One of the oldest theories dates back to Plato and other ancient Greek philosophers, namely the superiority theory. This suggested that people’s sense of humour was centred around triumph over others. We laugh at those we find misfortune in, or earlier versions of ourselves who knew no better. This is still reflected in modern media. Think of the multitude of classic Disney channel gags where someone is caught red-handed mocking another, as the person they were talking about was behind them all along. This awkward scenario triggers a flood of second hand-embarrassment, which is why it eventually sparks laughter, rooted in feelings of superiority and relief.
In the 18th century, Sigmund Freud gave rise to the theory of release, which proposed that laughter served as a way to let off steam and release pent-up nervous energy. This explains why taboo sexual jokes and awkward situations may provoke laughter. When the punchline is finally revealed, we redirect the energy expended to suppress inappropriate emotions hidden inside of us into energy released as uncontrollable laughter, stemming from the mind’s attempt to diffuse stress.
Additionally, the theory of incongruity proposes that people find humour in the juxtaposition of incompatible concepts, the misalignment of expectations and reality. This comes in the form of unexpected twists, grabbing the listener’s attention and leaving a memorable impact. When there’s a mismatch between expectation and reality, often appearing as illogical or absurd, the brain identifies these inconsistencies and resolves the tension they create, releasing the energy as laughter, and allowing us to see the situation in a whole new light. In everyday life, this takes shape as witty puns and clever wordplay that defy logical explanations.
These three theories cover different aspects of humour, yet one can recognise that not everyone will laugh at the same jokes, explaining the multiple occasions where jokes may not land as expected and you are left laughing on your own. Humour is complicated and varied and so the theory of “benign violation” unifies these three models but importantly, recognises their limits. It proposes that humour is a result of recognising that an ethical, social or physical norm has been violated, and this violation is not considered offensive, disgraceful or upsetting. This is centred on perspective and subjectivity. If the violation is considered harmless, we are likely to find it amusing, and if it feels offensive, we will not.
This is further complicated by distance. It has been said that “humour is tragedy plus time”. Getting soaked in the rain without an umbrella could be perceived as unfortunate or regrettably frustrating at the time yet can grow into amusement as time passes on. As the layers of emotions tied to that day eventually fade, what once felt miserable can transform into a funny memory and be told with laughter instead of regret. Chronological, geographical or emotional distance adds additional layers to what we find humorous – for example, perceiving a situation as imaginary. A study found that volunteers found disturbing photos of a man with a finger stuck up his nose and out of his eye more amusing when presented as imaginary than if told it had really happened. The added emotional distance can soften the discomfort and make it easier to find humour in a situation.
Despite these theories, there still remain many unexplored questions in the world of humour. For example, if laughter serves an evolutionary purpose of social bonding and inclusion, how is it used in instances of exclusion and mockery, serving the complete opposite of its initial aim? Also, laughter does not always correlate with humour and is present in uncomfortable situations we may not necessarily find funny. There remain dozens of types of laughter – wheezes, giggles, snorts, hearty belly laughs – each with their own separate purposes and instances, varying from person to person. And what constitutes a controllable or uncontrollable laugh? From countless try not to laugh challenges, does the theory of release still hold weight? And finally, within each of these theories there still lies inconsistencies; for example, in the theory of “benign violation”, some may still not be amused by a joke that is neither offensive nor distasteful, but just not funny.
Next time you find yourself laughing at a comedian’s stand-up show punchline or a friend’s everyday joke in passing, take a moment to reflect on what triggered it. Was it a surprising twist? A release of pent-up tension? An old memory that you can now find the courage to laugh at? Humour follows patterns that have existed for centuries and will follow us far into the future, however spontaneous it may feel in the moment. But although humour may evolve overtime, it will never cease to connect us in our social circles, in our awkward moments of silence, and in finding humour in unexpected places.
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