Facts About Laughter: Fun & Interesting Insights

By Sukhman Rekhi, M.A.
​Reviewed by Tchiki Davis, M.A., Ph.D.
If you think about your favorite memory, odds are you were probably laughing. Let’s take a look at some fun facts about why we laugh and its benefits.
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We all come from different cultural backgrounds and life experiences, but the one thing that binds us together is the universal language of laughter. Regardless of your mother tongue, infants, kids, adults, and the elderly alike can recognize the sweet joy of the ha-ha sounds. While laughter is often a part of our daily lives, many of us do not think about the significance or benefits of laughter. 
In this article, we will talk about what laughter is, offer some fun facts about laughing, and maybe even make a few jokes along the way. So pack a smile and come enjoy this ride.
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What Is Laughter? (A Definition)

I’m sure many of you read the header above and probably thought, “I don’t need to read this, I know what laughter is”—or some variation of that phrase. You wouldn’t be completely wrong, dear reader. Of course, we all know what laughter sounds like, but let me offer you some more information about the behavior of laughter. Laughing is an action that can be looked at physiologically, psychologically, and socially. Physiologically, we know that we laugh because our bodies release a physical reaction from our respiratory system that lets out an auditory sound similar to “ha-ha” or “he-he” (Stearns, 1972). Psychologically, we most often laugh because we are confronted with some positive emotion, such as joy or amusement. However, laughing may also be a psychological response when we are surprised or embarrassed (Gregory, 2013). And from a social context and human behavior standpoint, laughter is often triggered by positive interactions with other humans which can offer bonding, emotional intimacy, and acceptance from others (Scott et al., 2014). ​

TED Talk: Why We Laugh by Sophie Scott

Before we take a deep dive into our laughter facts, here’s a TED Talk on the topic of laughter. Sophie Scott, a neuroscientist, breaks down the science and psychology behind laughter in this video.

Historical Facts About Laughter

Historical Facts About Laughter
Research suggests that the evolution of human laughter began more than ten million years ago (Ross, Owren, & Zimmermann, 2009). However, as psychological and scientific research has advanced, particularly in the past century, gelotology, or the study of laughter, is still a growing field of study. 

Here are some historical tidbits about laughter, dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. 

  • In 1875, scientist Herbert Spencer theorized that laughter was a physiological reaction that was caused by the evocation of happy emotions and muscular excitement in our speech organs (Spencer, 1875). 
 
  • From a biological standpoint, one researcher conveyed the idea that laughter is an interruption of our body’s rhythmic flow, akin to crying, sneezing, or coughing (Sully, 1902). 
 
  • In their book about the psychology of relaxation, one philosopher authored the idea that laughter was a form of relaxation and offered relief from a tense thought or situation (Patrick, 1916). 
 
  • Here’s an interesting thought: One researcher looked into the correlation between laughter and safety and found that people usually don’t laugh out of joy unless they are in a safe environment with people who they feel calm with (Hayworth, 1928). 
 
  • Research from 1933 suggested that laughter is the primary reaction to expressing euphoric feelings. This research also theorized that laughter from infants is caused by some sort of happy stimuli and can affirm the baby’s well-being to their parents (Piddington, 1933). ​

Scientific Facts About Laughter

Let’s take a look at some more science about laughter. Here are a few facts to get our laughter listicle started:

  • Laughter in other animals. Did you know humans are not the only species who can laugh? And no, I’m not talking about the animals that you see in cartoons either. A recent study showed that nearly 65 other species also have their own form of laughter. A researcher at UCLA studies the sounds of other animals, and while they may not sound exactly like human laughter, they do something similar to laughter. These are called play vocalizations. These vocal sounds emitted from the animals in the study show that when animals are tickled, they may produce laughter-like audio (Winkler & Bryant, 2021). 

  • Laughter was a survival mechanism. Anthropologists and psychologists have argued that the purpose of laughing in early humans was to signal to other members of the group that they were safe from harm. Think back to the hunter-gatherer days when life was often nomadic and environments around groups of humans were constantly changing. Perhaps they lived among animals that preyed on humans or in areas that posed environmental threats to safety. Evolutionary studies later expanded on the idea that laughter was emitted during relaxation, which was why our modern-day human brains laugh when we are amused, relaxed, or find something funny (Provine, 2001). 

  • Laughter is contagious. Have you ever been in a room, looked across the aisle, found someone yawning, and then immediately felt the need to yawn yourself? Turns out, just like yawning, laughter is also contagious. Studies suggest that when you hear someone else laugh, you’re more likely to laugh too. Remember what we said about laughter being related to social context? This is a great application for that. In fact, humans are nearly 30 times more likely to laugh when with others than when we are by ourselves. Unless, we’re in our rooms laughing at the latest video on Twitter or TikTok, which I guess…is still laughing because of others (Provine & Fischer, 1989).  ​

Interesting Facts About Laughter

Want to read some more facts about laughter? Look no further. Here are some facts that may pique your interest. 

  • Laughter in Relationships. Did you know that you and your partner are more likely to stay together if you laugh with each other? Laughter can strengthen your relationship, elongate your partnership with your romantic partner(s), and increase satisfaction (Kurtz & Algoe, 2015). 

  • World Record for Laughing. Didn’t think there would be a world record for this category? Think again. The world record for longest consistent laughing was 3 hours and 47 minutes which was broken by a man named Rajendra Kumar in India (Golden Book of World Records, 2022). That’s a lot of laughing, huh? 

  • Laughter and Burning Calories? No way laughing burns calories, right? Well, some researchers at Vanderbilt University argue that 15 minutes of laughing a day can burn up to 40 calories a day (Buchowski et al., 2007). Doesn’t hurt to try right? 

  • Does Humor Cause Laughter? Well of course it can. However, laughter is not always linked to something funny. Research suggests that laughter is more closely linked to social interactions than hearing a joke (Provine, 2001). ​

Facts About Laughter Being the Best Medicine ​

It’s not just a phrase—laughter is actually great for our mental and physical health. Check out these facts about laughter and health below (Martin, 2002). 

  • Laughter and Endorphins. When we laugh, our body releases endorphins, and endorphins can release dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter (or happiness hormone) that can help improve our mood. 
 
  • Laughter as a Stress Reliever. Have you ever felt stressed and taken a break from work to turn on a funny TV show? Turns out, laughing is a natural way to de-stress, which not only makes us feel happier and less stressed but can improve feelings of depression and anxiety as well. 
 
  • Laughter and Tension. We all know life comes with its stressors and sometimes we can hold that stress in our bodies. If you feel your shoulders feeling heavy or your lower back aching, it could be because stress can lead to muscle tension. However, research suggests that laughter can alleviate tension and help relax our muscles. 
 
  • Laughter and Heart Health. Laughing often can improve cardiovascular health as it increases blood flow to the heart. When our cardiovascular health improves, we can also lower the risk of heart disease and heart attack (which of course, is just one factor of heart health). ​

TED Talk: Laughter is Medicine by Anjelah Johnson

Here’s a video from stand-up comedian, Anjelah Johnson, about laughter as a form of medicine. 

Facts About Laughter Therapy

You might know that various forms of therapy exist, such as talk therapy, pet therapy, and art therapy. But did you know laughter is a form of therapy too? Here are some facts about laughter therapy. 

  • What is Laughter Therapy? Laughter therapy is most often used for elderly patients or those of us who may be struggling with severe illnesses, such as cancer. Now that we know laughter has its own health benefits, intentionally using laughter as a therapy method encourages patients to help themselves relieve emotional pain and stress. This type of therapy often uses jokes, funny movies, and laughing exercises to elicit an emotional laughing response (Ko & Youn, 2011). 
 
  • Laughter Improves Life Satisfaction. Laughter not only can help release pain but can improve life satisfaction. In a study about laughter therapy with seniors, research suggested that laughing can lower feelings of loneliness and improve general well-being in life (Deshpande & Verma, 2013). ​

TED Talk: Laughter Yoga by Liliana DeLeo ​

You’ve probably heard of yoga, but have you heard of laughter yoga? Here’s a video that talks a bit more about it. 

Facts About Laughter Yoga

Here are some facts about laughter yoga, a method of yoga popularized by Madan Kataria in the 1990s (Kataria, 2020).  

  • Prolonged Voluntary Laughter. You may be thinking that when you laugh, you usually do it involuntarily—which essentially means that you don’t think about laughing intentionally, it just sort of happens. You’re not wrong. Laughter yoga, however, uses what’s called prolonged voluntary laughter, which forces you to laugh. 

  • Laughter Yoga and Immunity. Forcing ourselves to laugh can decrease cortisol levels, boost the lymphatic system, and thus improve our immune system. ​

Fun Facts About Laughter

Here are some lighthearted facts (or maybe jokes!) about laughter. Check them out:

  • Did you know that there’s an ideal number of words in a joke? The correct answer is 103. 
  • Adults laugh on average 20 times per day. 
  • “There was once a woman who heard a joke so funny that she passed away. After hearing the joke themselves, authorities concluded that it was indeed a killer joke”. —This joke is from punstoppable.com.

Quotes About Laughter

Have you read all those facts and are still not convinced about the benefits of laughter? Perhaps these quotes may help inspire you—or make you laugh. 
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  • “A good laugh heals a lot of hurts.” - Madeleine L’Engle 
  • “At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.” - Jean Houston
  • “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” - Charles Dickens
  • “Laughter is a bodily exercise, precious to health.” - Aristotle 
  • “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” - Victor Borge
  • “You don’t stop laughing because you grow older. You grow older because you don’t stop laughing.” - Maurice Chevalier
  • “Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” - Victor Hugo
  • “I am especially glad of the divine gift of laughter: it has made the world human and lovable, despite all its pain and wrong.” - W. E. B. Du Bois
  • “Everybody laughs the same in every language because laughter is a universal connection.” - Yakov Smirnoff 
  • “Seven days without laughter makes one weak.” - Mort Walker

Articles Related to Laughter

​Want to learn more? Check out these articles:

Books Related to Laughter

If you’d like to keep learning more, here are a few books that you might be interested in.
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Final Thoughts on Facts About Laughter

Even though laughter has most likely been a daily occurrence in our lives since we were wee-little infants in diapers, hopefully, you learned something new today about laughing. Maybe next time you’re at a party, you can tell other party-goers some of these facts, or maybe some of your own jokes too. Just make sure no one laughs too hard. We wouldn’t want them to hurt their funny bone and end up at the ha-spital. ​

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