Spring Break
Investigating the psychological benefits of smiling and laughter
Mila Pilz
Issue date: 3/27/03 Section: features
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Jokes and pranks are not only fun, but they are a beneficial effect to all involved. Having a good sense of humor and remembering to laugh increases a person's mental and physical well being as well as helping them get along socially.
Gelology is the study of laughter. Emotional responses are controlled in the frontal lobe of the brain, but many other areas of the brain are used as well. The words and construction of the joke are analyzed by the left side of the cortex, the layer of cells that envelops the surface of the forebrain. In order to understand the meaning of the joke, the right hemisphere of the cortex is needed. Activity in the brain then transfers to the sensory processing portion of the occipital lobe, the region of the back of the head that has the cell that processes visual signs.
There are numerous things that can trigger someone to laugh, but there are only three main theories to the reasons behind why we laugh. The first theory is the incongruity theory, which states that something is found funny when the opposite of what we expect to happen happens. Our minds and bodies predict what is going to happen at the start and completion of the joke. Our expectations come from our past personal experiences and thought processes. When the joke turns out different than we expected, we have two groups of incompatible thoughts and emotions at the same time.
The second theory is known as the superiority theory. This theory explains why we laugh at another's mistake or misfortune.
The third theory is called the relief theory, which uses laughter as a way of releasing tension and stress. When a situation is too serious or negative, using humor lets us release the pent up emotions.
Having a sense of humor is great for our mental well being. Laughing helps us release the stress, tension and negative feelings we have.
"If we find humor, our appraisal of the situation is less threatening and we reduce the severity of the stressful experience. Also, humor acts as a buffer to lessen our negative effects that stress has on our mood," said Kambon Camara, Assistant Psychology professor and counselor at the Counseling Center and Human Developement.
Gelology is the study of laughter. Emotional responses are controlled in the frontal lobe of the brain, but many other areas of the brain are used as well. The words and construction of the joke are analyzed by the left side of the cortex, the layer of cells that envelops the surface of the forebrain. In order to understand the meaning of the joke, the right hemisphere of the cortex is needed. Activity in the brain then transfers to the sensory processing portion of the occipital lobe, the region of the back of the head that has the cell that processes visual signs.
There are numerous things that can trigger someone to laugh, but there are only three main theories to the reasons behind why we laugh. The first theory is the incongruity theory, which states that something is found funny when the opposite of what we expect to happen happens. Our minds and bodies predict what is going to happen at the start and completion of the joke. Our expectations come from our past personal experiences and thought processes. When the joke turns out different than we expected, we have two groups of incompatible thoughts and emotions at the same time.
The second theory is known as the superiority theory. This theory explains why we laugh at another's mistake or misfortune.
The third theory is called the relief theory, which uses laughter as a way of releasing tension and stress. When a situation is too serious or negative, using humor lets us release the pent up emotions.
Having a sense of humor is great for our mental well being. Laughing helps us release the stress, tension and negative feelings we have.
"If we find humor, our appraisal of the situation is less threatening and we reduce the severity of the stressful experience. Also, humor acts as a buffer to lessen our negative effects that stress has on our mood," said Kambon Camara, Assistant Psychology professor and counselor at the Counseling Center and Human Developement.