Why Is Laughter Infectious?

Have you ever wondered why laughter is infectious? When you see people laughing, you are likely to laugh too. This happens even when you have no idea behind their laughter. Sometimes, even the sound of people laughing ignites a burst of laughter. The aspect proves the words of Ella Wheeler Wilcox, who said, “laugh and the world will love together with you.”

Laughter is like an infectious disease that you quickly spread to other people. It becomes hard to resist laughing when you find other people laughing. In the same way, you will get people on board with your laughter. 

But why is this the case? Why is laughter infectious? Here are some of the reasons why this is the case:

Laughter triggers positive emotions 

According to science, human faces respond differently to different sounds. Your face muscle will show different reactions depending on the nature of sound received. Laughter is one of the sounds that influence human emotions. When you hear people or someone laughing, your brains receive the sound and trigger positive reactions.

The positive emotions make your face muscles respond with a burst of laughter. So, laughter from other people influences your premotor side of the brain to generate a positive reaction. This is the reason why you will always smile uncontrollably when you find others laughing.  

Laughter is critical in bonding people

Bonding and socialization are critical in the human race. People love staying together and having fun moments. Laughing is a crucial part of the fun. Laughter acts as a bonding agent in a group or society. When one laughs at a joke or humor, it is a sign of agree with what they say. As well, people can only love when they feel free and comfortable with each other.

Also, humans usually mimic what others are doing to be at par with them. You will use the same gestures and words your peers use to explain something to them.  This way, you are able to communicate and share information. The same way you copy other things, laughter is no different. You will mimic other people’s laughter and start laughing too.

It is in human genetics 

Did you know that laughter is older than language? Studies indicate that human ancestors used laughter as a way of strengthening the bond between them. The primates could not speak. So, the only way to remain together was only through laughter. 

Also, scientists believe that each human has the humor and jokes response attached to their DNA. All that lacks is a trigger. Seeing other people laughing stimulates the laughter response, and you involuntary join them. 

Also, the human brain receptors have a way of mirroring everything in other people. Laughter is one of the mirror-effect of the human brain. When you put two mirrors facing each other and an object between them, then you look through either side, you will see an infinite replica of the object’s image. Laughter happens this same way. One person can infect thousands of people with a burst of laughter.

Wrapping up

No doubt, laughing is infectious. You will laugh or smile when you hear or see other people laughing. Also, it is impossible to avoid laughter. However, laughing is an excellent way to enhance your health and wellbeing. Laughter boosts your immune system and helps in stress and pain management. 

But naturally, people laugh out of humor and jokes shared with them. This notion is not always the case. Sometimes, people can stimulate laughter. They will laugh when they find other people laughing without the knowledge of the cause. The above reasons explain why we find laughter infectious. 

Are you wondering what laughter can do for you? Read this testimony.