What everyone should know about humour & laughter

laughter

Ron Berk, PhD - The Johns Hopkins University
(updated 2008 by Rod Martin, PhD, Don Baird, PsyD, and Bob Nozik, MD)

Here is a summary of what we know (and don’t know) about the effects of humour, mirth, and laughter based on the research to date.  Humour is the cognitive perception of playful incongruity. Mirth is the positive emotion that accompanies humor.  Laughter is the respiratory-vocal behavior that communicates this emotion to others.  The first list presents WHAT WE KNOW according to the research.  The second lists WHAT WE DON’T KNOW YET, which expresses common beliefs in need of a firm scientific foundation in order to be promoted to the WHAT WEKNOW list.  These lists will be updated periodically as new research findings are published.

WHAT WE KNOW

Humor (when used appropriately and sensitively)

  • Reduces stress, anxiety, and tension
  • Promotes psychological well-being
  • Raises self-esteem
  • Improves interpersonal interactions and relationships
  • Builds group identity, solidarity, and cohesiveness
  • Enhances memory (for humorous information)

Mirth

  • Increases pain tolerance
  • Elevates mood
  • Increases hope, energy, and vigor
  • Counteracts depression and anxiety
  • Enhances creative thinking and problem-solving
  • Increases friendliness and helpfulness

Laughter

  • Intensifies mirth
  • Is contagious (induces mirth in others)
  • Increases interpersonal attraction and closeness
  • Exercises respiratory muscles

WHAT WE DON’T KNOW YET

Humor

  • Reduces respiratory infections
  • Treats asthma
  • Enhances positive lifestyle choices
  • Improves diabetes
  • Increases longevity

Mirth

  • Improves immune function
  • Raises endorphins
  • Treats cancer
  • Fights off infections

Laughter

  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Reduces heart disease
  • Exercise benefits equal to jogging
  • Leads to significant weight loss
  • Whether children laugh more frequently than adults.


Endorsed by the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor
65 Enterprise • Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
1-888-747-AATH (2284) • staff@aath.org • www.aath.org

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