Category: Laughter

For human, laughter is found to be produced predominantly during social interactions (Provine, 1993). People were over 30 times as likely to laugh in social situations such as vocal communication and group activities than in solitary situations (Provine, 1997). In fact, laughter is so predominantly social that it almost disappears when people are in solitary (Provine & Fischer, 1989). Human produce laughter to promote social bonding as well as gain mating advantages (Provine, 2016). Those who laugh together communicate more effectively and creates closer social bonging; and more laughter from the female during a relationship indicates higher intimacy of the relationship.

For animals, laughter is also most often present during social play among great apes (Chevalier-Skolnikoff, 1982; Fossey, 1983; Goodall, 1986). Chimpanzees laugh more often during social play than during solitary play to gain cooperative and communicative advantages (Davila-Ross, Allcock, Thomas, & Bard, 2011), which enhances the bonding capacity within the group. Laughter is seen as “grooming from a distance” for great apes that enables a significant expand of the community (Dezecache & Dunbar, 2012). It seems that the use of laughter for better social bonding is consistent in great apes, suggesting a shared psychological motivation for hominids’ laughter.

Humour is another motivation for laughter in human, with approximately 10% to 20% of pre-laugh stimulus are intended display of humour (Provine, 1997). Laughter in response to casual forms of humour usually involves teasing and pranking and is mostly observed in infants and children (Gervais & Wilson, 2005). Chimpanzees and gorillas were also observed to produce laughter after successful pranking such as throwing trash to the crowd, and after seeing silly or unusual behaviours of their caretakers (McGhee, 2018). These casual attempts of humour focus on creating a hilarious or silly situation from which the sense of mischief and joy arises, which subsequently elicit laughter.

In contrast, laughter in response to formal attempts of humour (usually in the forms of jokes and sarcasm in adults) requires complex cognitive abilities. Keith-Spiegel (1972) argued that humour stimulates laughter by creating an absurd incongruity: people laugh when expecting a story to unfold in a serious way but are instead faced with an expected funny twist. The incongruity is perceived by understanding that current event is different from what was initially assumed (Gervais & Wilson, 2005). Laughter motivated by humour is seen as uniquely human because of the involvement of expectancies or assumptions for the future (Askenasy, 1987). Human form predictions of how an event is likely to unfold based on past experience and the experiences of others, which are made possible by nested scenario building and the urge to connect (Suddendorf, 2013). Nested scenario building enables us to reflect and imagine different scenarios for the future, and our hardwired urge to exchange scenarios provides feedback to the expected scenarios for the future. Formal humour introduces harmless and funny stimulus to the expected scenarios thus inducing laughter, and such laughter is therefore thought to be a human automorphy (Preuschoft, 1992).

However, McGhee (2018) observed incongruity-elicited laughter in apes with systematic sign language training. A gorilla Koko was shown a picture of a bird, she then signed “that me” and “Koko bird” to the caretaker. When the caretaker express confusion over this statement, she signed “fake bird” in confession, followed by a series of laughter. This indicates that Koko is capable of understanding the humour of treating what is known (“Koko gorilla”) as something incongruent (“Koko bird”). The author concluded that apes appeared to understand the absurdity of treating the object as something at odds with reality. But the laughter may simply be the result of a mischief joy Koko experienced from teasingly play with the caretaker. There is no evidence of Koko knowing what is expected from her thus manipulating her language in a humorous way to evoke laughter from others. Theres is also little evidence of other animals laughing in response to absurd incongruity.

So overall, both human and animals laugh during social situations to enhance bonding, and both tend to laugh at hilarious situations to express joy, but adult humour in human that involves nested scenario building is unique to human.

If the metaphor “laughter is the best medicine” reigns true, there is no wonder why Nurse Ratched takes exhaustive measures to keep laughter out of her ward. In an effort to keep her ward under control, Nurse Ratched strips patients of comfortable environments, such as the environment to laugh in. When an individual is no longer capable of laughing, he is also no longer capable of being in control of himself. This happens when a greater authority has the power to deny a person of their laughter; which, inevitably, denies him of his freedom. Ken Kesey conveys the idea that laughter and freedom go hand in hand throughout his novel, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Kesey portrays laughter as a parallel to freedom through various literary symbols and imagery in order to illustrate how the power of laughter can free a man who is under the control of an unjust authority.

Before our protagonist even arrives in the book, Kesey paints a picture of a cold and grim world, where a single figure seems to have complete authority over the men of the ward. Nurse Ratched, the antagonist of the book, is closely described in allusion to the character “Big Brother” (from George Orwell’s 1984) through her own nickname, the “Big Nurse”, coined by the narrator Chief Bromden (p. 4). She is seen as oppressive and all-knowing, with complete control over every aspect of her ward. Her correlation to the term “Big Brother” is a definitive point of her being the antithesis to freedom in the novel. She is able to act like “an angel of mercy” while at the same time shaming the patients into submission; she knows their weak spots and exactly where to peck (p. 266). As Nurse Ratched continues to gain complete control over the men, they lose their freedom, and thus their ability to act on their own.

When McMurphy arrives, he is a stark contrast to the previous happenings of the ward. Before McMurphy arrives in the ward, there is no laughter there. Chief Bromden describes McMurphy’s laughter as ‘free and loud’ and spreading ‘in rings bigger and bigger till it . . . lap[s] against the walls.’ He then realizes that ‘it’s the first laugh’ he’s heard for years (p. 12). McMurphy’s laughter is an indication of his freedom and his spirit, and freedom and spirit are two traits which the patients under Nurse Ratched’s care have been denied. At first, everyone on the ward is ‘stunned dumb’ by McMurphy’s laughter (p. 12). Even through all the confusion of the laughter, this is where the patients’ admiration for McMurphy begins.

Even though McMurphy is new to the ward, he knows that the actions of Nurse Ratched have severely interfered with the patients’ minds. McMurphy notices immediately that the men on the ward never laugh, and stunningly makes the connection of laughter and free will. “You know, that’s the first thing that got me about this place, that there wasn’t anybody laughing. I haven’t heard a real laugh since I came through that door, do you know that? Man, when you lose your laugh you lose your footing. A man go around lettin’ a woman whup him up and down till he can’t laugh anymore, and he loses one of the biggest edges he’s got on his side.” (p. 70). McMurphy explains the correlation of laughter and freedom to the other patients, and how laughter is the biggest weapon against Nurse Ratched’s attempts at their freedom. McMurphy proceeds to teach the men to laugh, not through active lesson, but by teaching by example.

By part 3 of the book, McMurphy has been with the patients long enough for them to trust him, however apprehensive some may be. McMurphy decides to take the men on a fishing trip, to explore life outside of the ward, and experience freedom. While on the boat, everyone catches large fish and gets drunk. This is the first true taste of freedom the men of had since being admitted to the ward. As the patients work to reel in a fish that is caught, McMurphy is “laughing…just standing at the cabin door, not even making a move to do anything” (p. 248). Here, McMurphy’s laugh is the push for the men to work on their own, embracing their free will and proving that the men don’t need Nurse Ratched to function. It is because of McMurphy’s laugh, that unlikely characters like Harding jump into action in “in graceful motion, like he’s been boating fish all his life” in order to accomplish the mission of reeling in the fish (p. 248). After the men finally prove to themselves that they can perform on their own, they join McMurphy in laughing. “It started slow and pumped itself full, swelling the men bigger and bigger…I could see…McMurphy surrounded by his dozen people, and watch them, us, swinging in laughter that rang out on the water…” (p. 250). Now that the men have seen their own power, an attribute that was once specific to McMurphy, the ability to laugh, is seen amongst every patient. The men have broken free of the Big Nurse’s control, and are not afraid to laugh and be free anymore.

The theme of dependence is prominent throughout the novel. But McMurphy has never been dependent before, and because of this, is seen as a hero who has the ability to fight against unjust authority. McMurphy and his own freedom is the driving force behind the other patients, and the quest for their own. Laughter in the novel, is used as a novelty, being used in junction with independence. McMurphy, through the use of laughter, has taught the patients to act on their own. Moving away from the tight mold that Nurse Ratched has tried to keep them in, which will in turn, heal the men. Laughter is used as medicine in the novel, not for their body, but strictly for their mind.

If you are reading my essay, you might think that yoga and laughter is a weird combination just based on the title. However, it is actually a reasonable combination, especially when we are talking about how to best take care of ourselves.

One of the most popular forms of self-care that I have learned over the years is yoga. For me, yoga is one of those exercises that I can comfortably do at home and feel well-rested every night. This is because I always need some kind of break or way to calm down my mind and body, in order to either focus better on my next activity or sleep better. It’s the same idea with laughter. Every day, I always try to find something to make me laugh, whether that is achieved by watching hilarious videos or listening to the jokes that other people make. Therefore, you should try out a combination of yoga and laughter, too! Let’s break down each form of self-care first, though.

Regarding yoga, I have developed a small thirty-minute exercise routine that includes a variety of stretches and meditation. Some of the stretches I usually do are squats, warrior poses, boat pose, bridge pose, plank pose, sit-ups, and push-ups. Out of these stretches, I personally like doing the squats, bridge pose, and push-ups for different reasons. Doing the squats are really beneficial for strengthening the muscles in my legs. Doing the bridge pose stretches my neck, chest, and spine. This is most effective if any of those parts of your body are really stiff. Doing the push-ups work out my shoulders, triceps, and abdominals. Because it can sometimes be difficult to stand back up while doing the squats, I usually lift dumbbells. That way, I can persevere more and become physically stronger. I repeatedly tell myself, “I can do this. I can physically and mentally benefit from doing yoga even though the stretches can be difficult.” My thought process here can be applied in any situation, whether that is work-related, school-related, or relationship-related. As long as you put in the effort, doing yoga will definitely pay off, especially in your sleep time. Like the article “Taking Care of Yourself” mentions, well-rested sleep means “avoiding using computers, TV and smartphones before bed.” This is because the stretches, including meditation, are intended for you to relax your mind and body. On the other hand, bright screens are there for you to stay alert, which is not what we want to do when we want a full rest.

If doing yoga itself isn’t a motivation, listening to sleep music might help you get in the mood. Some of the most popular examples of yoga music on YouTube that really helps me are called “Long Playlist of Relaxing Piano Music”, “Instrumental Music Playlist-Piano, Violins & Trap Beats”, “Relaxing Instrumental Music-8 Hours Epic Piano & Smooth Chillout-Long Playlist”, “2 Hours of Relaxing Music | Chinese Bamboo Flute | Piano – Meditation – Healing – Zen”, and “Relaxing Music Mix | Beautiful Piano.” The main reason I listen to these types of sleep music in order to fall asleep is that I listen to songs so often that they can get stuck in my head! I always have to listen to instrumental music so that I hopefully forget the lyrics to the songs that I listened to earlier in the day. It can be difficult at times because some parts of the songs are so addicting that I can’t get them out of my head. However, like with yoga and meditation, perseverance wins.

Meditation is another huge part of yoga that isn’t valued as much these days, but it should be! Meditation is basically a way to relax your mind by thinking about positive things and/or doing breathing exercises. I mostly implement the 4-7-8 breathing technique. The 4-7-8 breathing technique is basically an exercise in which you inhale for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds. It sometimes helps if you close your eyes while doing this, because you can break free from the current moment and relax for a bit. There are also many guided meditations on YouTube for you to listen to. It is a great technique to try out if you are unable to fall asleep or just want a moment to take a break from everything. You can meditate anywhere!

My other form of self-care, laughter, is as simple as it sounds. Find ways to make yourself smile and/or laugh every day. The most important lesson I learned through laughter is to not take life too seriously. Enjoy it while you can. Trust me, it’ll benefit you so much more if you find ways to incorporate laughter in your life. As the article “Self-care challenge: a guide to building a self-care routine + 37 journal prompts,” Dr. Fry, Dr. Beck, and other doctors concluded that laughter “uplifts mood and gives you a sense of confidence.” This is especially true when you are feeling down or stressed and want something to cheer you up. One of the ways I learned to laugh more is through the korean idol groups. There are so many korean idol groups out there that can make me laugh, but the specific ones that make me laugh the most are BTS, iKon, and Seventeen. There are so many “Try Not to Laugh” challenges on YouTube that include word games, missions, and funny interviews that reveal the cute sides of the idols. It just goes on to show how special they are and how much of a positive impact they can have on you.

Korean dramas can be entertaining, too! I’m a Korean drama addict, so I have watched many Korean dramas and listened to many kpop songs. Some funny Korean dramas I recommend are Descendants of the Sun, She Was Pretty, Kill Me Heal Me, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, Legend of the Blue Sea, and Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. Each of these dramas have inspirational yet hilarious sides to all the characters. It is even more funny when you watch them interact with each other. Some TedTalks are hilarious, as well! Just search for “funny TedTalks”, and you’ll see many options that you’ll enjoy watching. Even the ones about learning and technology can be fun and inspiring.

Of course, YouTube videos are not the only way to make you smile. You have your family and friends to hang out with and joke around with. Malls, restaurants, beaches, and stores are some of the most popular places to hang out and be yourself. There are definitely other places to relieve stress, but based on my personal experience, I love going to the mall. Malls have everything I need, from clothes to food. It is especially fun for me to go with my family and friends. We often try out different clothes and search for delicious dessert. Through this, I was able to know my friends more.

Thus, if you practice yoga and laugh every day, you’ll become better at taking care of yourself! Just practice yoga with relaxing music in the background for roughly thirty minutes or more, depending on how much of a workout you need. Only do the stretches that you feel will help work out your muscles and abdominals. It would be best to do the stretches from about five to ten minutes each in order to successfully feel more relaxed at the end. There are also different forms of meditation that you can try out. Alongside the practice of laughing every so often that you can each day, hopefully you will find out how much of an impact these forms of self-care are.

Works Cited

1. “NAMI.” NAMI, www.nami.org/Find-Support/Family-Members-and-Caregivers/Taking-Care-of-Yourself.
2. Shop, Concept. “Self-Care Challenge: a Guide to Building a Self-Care Routine + 37 Journal Prompts.” Minimalism, Minimalism, 30 Mar. 2019, www.minimalism.co/articles/self-care-routine.

This quality contributes to effective care as it increases the individual’s participation if you are understanding they would feel more comfortable to make have their voices heard. It provides reassurance to service users as they are trying to put themselves in that position and say and act according to that. This will reassure the service user as you are not trying to make them feel or think differently but instead helping them or talking to them about it, so they feel as if they are not alone. This quality contributes to effective care as it makes the service user feel included and feel respected as they are being understood and cared for.

Sense of humor is the ability to appreciate and joke with someone. Having a good sense of humor makes you seem like an approachable and nice person. If a care practitioner has a good sense of humor it allows them to get to know service users, this is because you can find out what kind of things they like to joke about and which they do not. A sense of humor is a significant quality to have because it develops self-esteem, confidence, and resilience. In doing this, it is an easy way to build positive relationships with service users. This is because if you are someone that can brighten someone’s day it makes you seem trustworthy and a generous person which can make service users want to communicate and be around you. Being able to make someone laugh is an important quality because it shows that you can make them feel less stressed and anxious.

This quality contributes to effective care as it would make the service user feel valued and facilitate enjoyment. This is because if the care practitioner is going out of their way to make you laugh it shows that care about your mental well-being as well. Having a sense of humor reduces anxiety and stress as you can forget about everything and just laugh and be happy even if it is for a short amount of time. Making an individual laugh could help them have an escape from all their problems and just feel free and valued. For example, if a primary school student was worried and stressing about the SATs the care practitioner could make them laugh so that they ease and start to worry less, by making the student laugh the care practitioner is allowing them to calm down and enjoy moments instead of stressing all the time.

For example, in a primary school (early years setting), if a child who had just transferred to this school was anxious about their first day, the care practitioner should try and make them laugh so that they don’t need to feel afraid. By doing this the care practitioner is reducing anxiety and stress and making the student feel valued as the care practitioner is thinking about their feelings. By the care practitioner talking to the student and making them laugh can make them feel comfortable and relaxed in their environment, which can help build the relationship.

However, if the care practitioner does not have any sense of humor they would seem unapproachable and they won’t get to build that relationship with the service users. Building a relationship with service users is one of the most significant things because if you don’t have that connection communicating may seem harder and trying to help the service user can be more challenging as you don’t know what they like and what they would want. If the care practitioner didn’t have a sense of humor the student would’ve remained anxious and stressed and wouldn’t have been able to talk to anyone as they are too nervous too. If the care practitioner didn’t try to make the student laugh it could make them feel unvalued and unimportant as the care practitioner wasn’t willing to try to lift the student’s mood and get them to be less nervous.

The last quality that a care practitioner should have is cheerfulness. Cheerfulness is the ability to be noticeably happy, friendly, and optimistic. Cheerfulness is an important quality to have because it creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere this is because when someone is happy it radiates throughout the room or whatever environment you are in. It is also important because it helps to make individuals feel less anxious, this is because seeing a happy face helps to reduce stress as you are seeing someone be happy and not worry. Having someone share their cheerfulness can help decrease the stress of others as they are seeing or hearing what had made them so happy and it makes the individual listening also feel some things. For example, if there was a child who was all by themself trying to read a book and being sad seeing someone who is happy and cheerful helps bring a smile to the face too. Another example is if someone was just proposed to and they were cheerful about that and told someone it could make the other individual smile as they are so happy. Cheerfulness is an important quality to have because they create feelings of mutual trust and provide enjoyment. It is also important because it’s giving distractions.

For example, in a hospital (healthcare setting), if a patient was worried about their surgery the care practitioner should ensure that they are cheerful and spread that so the patient can feel less worried about their surgery. The care practitioner should be cheerful so that they develop positive relationships, with mutual respect. It builds relationships as you are trying to make them feel better and therefore end up building positive relationships. The care practitioner should make sure to say a joke or do something so they smile, this will make the patient feel valued and important as you are trying to feel happier and more joyful.

However, if the care practitioner does not have quality cheerfulness it can be hard to communicate with this care practitioner. This is because the patient wouldn’t want to talk to someone who is not cheerful. This can make the patient feel unvalued and uncomfortable as the care practitioner is not trying to calm them down or make them feel less worried.