The Science of Laughter
We tend to think of laughter as a reaction to something funny, but researchers who have people in everyday conversation have found that this is rarely the case. Most laughter follows ordinary remarks such as 'See you later' rather than jokes. It seems to a mainly social purpose: it signals friendliness and helps people feel part of a group. This may explain why we are about thirty times more likely to laugh when we are with others than when we are alone. Laughter is also highly ; simply hearing someone else laugh can make us start. There may be physical benefits too. A good laugh appears to stress and may even make pain easier to bear for a short time. However, some popular claims have gone well the evidence, such as the idea that laughing can cure serious illness. As one scientist put it, laughter is good for us, but it is not a for medicine.
