Gaby
Have you ever met someone who never laughs? If so, you probably tried to leave the conversation as quickly as possible. Why? Because we instinctively gravitate toward cheerful, smiling people who are pleasant to be around. Don’t believe laughter helps? Believe it: laughter heals not just the soul but the body. Perhaps that’s why, in times when society is struggling with illness, we see a surge of comedians.
Laughter Therapy – A Branch of Psychology
Laughter helps people live. That idea matters especially for people who are ill and constantly under stress. This psychological approach can also serve as a preventive measure—simply keeping a good mood in everyday life can help boost immunity.
This type of therapy (gelotology) became possible thanks to William F. Fry, a psychiatrist at Stanford University. He laid the foundations of laughter therapy in the 1960s and published a major study on the topic. The first person to put this theory into practice was journalist Norman Cousins, who suffered from spinal inflammation. An eternal optimist, he believed that positive emotions play a major role in a person’s health. He treated his back pain with large doses of vitamin C and by watching comedy shows. Ultimately, it helped him.
Today, many scientific organizations study humor. One of them is the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH).
According to specialists, laughter therapy follows several main approaches:
- The classic approach uses comedies, jokes, and funny stories. This material serves as the foundation for gelotology sessions.
- An individual or author’s approach uses reflex laughter, facial exercises, creative workshops, and similar activities.
- Hospital clowning aims to distract patients (primarily children) and their parents from the sad realities of everyday life.
Of course, laughter therapy cannot replace prescribed medical treatment. However, it has a powerful impact on mood, which can help the body function with renewed vigor. In this context, gelotologists also highlight two additional formats—hospital therapy and laughter yoga. The first format is applied to people who are ill, while the second serves as a preventive measure.
Contagious, Social, Humorous – What Types of Laughter Exist?
Humor, sarcasm, and biting remarks—like any medicine, laughter does not always heal. Sometimes harsh mockery produces the exact opposite effect. Sigmund Freud argued that not all humor heals; he identified seven types of laughter:
Malicious Humor
Freud defined this as laughter at someone when one considers them inferior. It is often fueled by prejudice and intolerance toward others’ shortcomings.
Giggles
This type of laughter is common in children, but adults can grab it too. Sometimes a person does not even understand what triggers it; they just laugh because it feels funny. The benefit of this laughter lies in its ability to relieve stress and tension.
Jokes
This category can include so-called “dark” humor. Jokes help break down barriers of what is acceptable and can challenge stereotypes.
Self-Irony
People often intentionally make themselves the target of jokes. They might say something awkward or act clumsily. Freud associated this form of laughter with a desire for attention.
Satire
This is a high form of irony, a sharp mockery. Shakespeare and Gogol mastered satire. It can heal, but with a surgical kind of force that allows one to speak the truth directly to the offender.
Obsequious Laughter
This laughter appears when someone wants to flatter another person. Generally, this type of laughter is manipulative and does not foster genuine emotional expression.
Healing Laughter
Freud referred to this as comic laughter. In this case, the laughter is shared rather than directed at someone. This sincere laughter is the most healing.
What Are the Benefits of Laughter?
Unfortunately, many people lack laughter in their lives. While children laugh around 400 times a day, adults manage only about 15. Gelotologists highlight several benefits of laughter:
- Lowers stress hormone levels and increases endorphins, which improves immune function;
- Exercises the diaphragm, the cardiovascular system, and the abdominal muscles;
- Distracts from negative emotions;
- Provides social benefits—laughter connects us with others;
- Offers a brief break—after a humorous pause, productivity often rebounds.
The positive effects of a smile appear whether the smile is genuine or forced. So find reasons to laugh—rather than dwelling on life’s troubles, laugh at them. Laughter will lighten the mood for you and for the people around you. Smile outdoors, at home, at work, and while spending time with loved ones. A smile inspires trust and positivity, and it truly brings people together.
Interesting Facts About Laughter
Traditionally, April 1 is April Fools’ Day. On that day, people share jokes and play pranks just to have a good laugh at each other’s expense. Here are some interesting facts related to laughter:
- Besides humans, chimpanzees and rats can laugh—especially when tickled;
- Seventeen muscle groups are engaged when smiling, while more than 300 muscles are involved in laughter, including muscles in the back, abdomen, arms, and legs;
- People in Brazil and Cuba smile the most, while Scandinavians smile the least;
- Women laugh more often than men—partly because they tend to have a slightly different sense of humor;
- Comedians tend to live much longer than satirists, according to a study of actors’ lifespans over the past three centuries;
- You can actually earn quite a bit from laughter—one smile from American Todd Gordon was worth $4,000 in a commercial, while the fortune of comedian Jim Carrey tops $180 million;
- Waitstaff who smile at their customers receive twice as much in tips.
So smile or laugh for your health—and may laughter prolong your life!
