As Danish-American comedian and pianist Victor Borge famously said, "Laughter is the shortest distance between two people." In many ways, laughing is one of the easiest social lubricators we have. It naturally boosts social cohesion, strengthens relationships, and fosters trust.
Why do we laugh? There are several working theories, but most divide laughing into two types. The first kind is
Duchenne laughter, which is "spontaneous, emotional, impulsive and involuntary." According to
Scientific American, it is "a genuine expression of amusement and joy."
On the flip side is the voluntary and purposeful type, non-Duchenne laughter. As social creatures, we use this type strategically to mirror others or to relieve stress during more serious conversations.
Whether laughing along with the glee of a baby’s giggles, a joke that hilariously pushes social conventions or a viral video, we laugh for various reasons. But, in essence, we laugh because it undeniably feels good, and, in many cases, it serves as a powerful social glue.
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