Why Do We Laugh?

Man is said to be the only animal that can laugh. The laughter is regarded by many as the best medicine, a panacea and a cure-well.

When we laugh, we make certain sounds and there is movements of the face and body showing joy, amusement or even contempt. There are many ways of laughing. Chuckle is a low quiet laugh with closed mouth incicating amusement or satisfaction. Snicker or snigger is a half-suppressed, ususally cynical laugh. Giggle means to laugh lightly in a nervous or silly manner. We sometimes cackle (a loud laugh), jeer (a rude laugh), smile or grin. Smile is a pleased expression on the face, with parting of the lips and loosening of the face muscles. Grin is a broad smile showing the teeth and expressing foolish satisfaction, contempt, etc.

Laughter is basically an expression of our feelings. It is considered to be the way in which we react to something, and it is not caused by any mechanical process in our body. If it all there is a ‘mechanical’ cause of the laughter, then it is said to be ‘tickling’. . Then, that laughter is nothing but a reflex action.

It is argued that laughter is a kind of socal act. May be. for, on hearing a joke or witnessing something funny, we just smile when alone and laugh aloud in the company of friends. Laughter expresses joy, amusement, satisfaction and at times even a feeling of superiority.