"The Science of Humor: Investigating the Psychological Mechanisms Behind Laughter"
- How does humor function as a social lubricant, fostering
connections and bonding among individuals?
- What
neurobiological processes underlie the experience of finding something funny?
I always look at finding humor and laughing as a form of therapy. When you are around an individual that you can always laugh and have fun with you tend to want to be in that persons company a lot. Which allows you to form a bond. Humor functions as a social lubricant because of the embracing of the atmosphere that you are in at that time. You are in the environment of happiness and nothing else matters in that moment but the joyful interactions that you are having.
ReplyDeleteI agree that humor is a great social lubricant. In addition to being helpful for group bonding, it can also help ease uncomfortable or embarrassing situations. For example, a waitress dropping a tray of drinks can either be mortifying or humorous, it just depends on the reaction. If she chooses to laugh at herself, it can make the situation more bearable for her instead of going and crying or getting angry.
DeleteAccording to "The anatomy of funny" an article written by the American Psychological Association, humor not only stimulates a part of the brain responsible for language, it also stimulates the nucleus accumbens. This is a part of the brain responsible for pleasure. This means that laughter causes a biological effect on the body by releasing pleasure signals.
I believe that humor comes naturally to us as we encounter new things and experiences in life. Additional factors may include our upbringing, life events, and how we live. We continue to laugh, display humor, or react to something hilarious even when it's unexpected. I find that laughter is healing, especially when it comes as a surprise. Laughing makes me happy and gives me a relaxing feeling therefore, I try to find something to laugh about almost every day, whether it's while watching a movie, making jokes, or simply having a conversation. It's common for laughter to spread among individuals when you're around them. Good conversation brings forth good stories and stories lead to good laughter. How amazing is it that our brains contribute to the production of endorphins and make us feel happy, which can lead to laughter?
ReplyDeleteHumor can function as a social lubricant because it kind of eases any anxiety or tension that may be present in any social situation. Jokes have often been used as icebreakers and a way to read the energy of the room. Humor bonds people together especially when they share a similar humor tendencies. By being around people who share the same humor as you it can help you to make connections with them.
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ReplyDeleteJokes are a great way to break the ice and gauge the energy of the room. Humor brings people together, especially if they have similar senses of humor. Being around people who have similar senses of humor can help you connect with them. All in all, humor can serve as a social lubricant.
People use humor as a way to communicate with others and many people find humor to be an easier method of communication, compared to other forms. Although sometimes used passive aggressively, humor can ease the blow of criticism and/or disagreement, therefore making sensitive conversation topics easier to discuss.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, humor is convenient when placed in a tense social moment, helping to break the ice and lighten the tension in the air. We often hear humor used as an ice breaker, to develop more comfort amongst the people in the conversation.
Experiencing laughter with people creates a sense of bonding and closeness. Laughing with other individuals also sparks a sense of belonging. Overall, individuals laughing together improves the quality of social bonds.
The brain's reward system is activated when something is perceived as being humorous, which triggers a release of dopamine. Neurobiologically, this is why people pursue experiences that are humorous. Humor also brings about a positive emotional response, which activates the amygdala.
In all, humor is very beneficial to human beings and laughing with others has many positive benefits neurologically, as well as serving as a social lubricant.
- Maryann
DeleteHumor breaks the ice in an a new and awkward situations, also helps others see the more human side of you and relax more. therefore, I do believe that it does help as a social lubricant. Connections are made easily when people can relate to you and also find that they relax around you. A pubmed publication said that humor may reduce blood pressure which i think is impressive that laughter can cause such a systemic effect.
ReplyDeleteHumor plays a critical role as a social lubricant by breaking down social barriers, easing tensions, and facilitating communication. From the moment we share a laugh, humor creates a sense of shared experience that connects people, even in situations where other forms of communication might be awkward or challenging. This is especially important in social settings, where humor can help to build rapport and establish common ground. Whether it’s a witty remark in the workplace, playful teasing among friends, or light-hearted banter during a casual meeting, humor can make interactions more enjoyable and less intimidating. The neurobiological processes that underlie humor and the experience of finding something funny are complex and involve several regions of the brain working in concert. At the core of humor processing is the reward system, which plays a pivotal role in how we experience pleasure or satisfaction from something funny.
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