When the world seems dark and hopeless, laughter has the magical ability to lift our spirits and lighten the heavy burden a lot of us are carrying. For example, comedians, caricature art, television comedies, comedy films, and even silly music have directly benefited society in times of distress.
In fact, caricature artists have been around for centuries, using their art to express emotions and ideas that are sometimes too sensitive or controversial to discuss directly.
According to My Modern Met, “…some of the first artists known to deviate from that ideal were Italian brothers Annibale and Agostino Carracci, who during the 1590s, would draw exaggerated portrait sketches for fun.
In 19th century France, Charles Philipon, owner of the magazine La Caricature, often depicted King Louis-Philippe with a pear-shaped face. This was offensive to the royal, since it was intended as a French sexual pun. The motif became the universal symbol for the king’s regime, ultimately encouraging the public to see Louis-Philippe in a satirical light.
In the U.S., Thomas Nast was the most influential American political cartoonist during the mid-to-late 1800s. With his caricatures, he helped to bring down the Boss Tweed ring and New York’s corrupt Tammany Hall.
A new era of 20th-century caricature artists boomed. They showed how caricatures could not only be amusing, but also act as visual commentaries on society and politics,”.
Laughter and humor can also:
- Diffuse tense situations
- Create a sense of camaraderie and trust
- Show support and affection
- Show that someone is not a threat
Additionally, humor is seen as a way of expressing solidarity and group membership. For example, people are likely to laugh at jokes that refer to their group, culture, or religion, as this allows them to feel a sense of belonging and unity.
When I laugh, it makes me want to lighten up, not take everything so seriously, and learn to, as the old saying goes, “Wear the world like a loose garment, which touches us in a few places and there lightly” – St Francis of Assisi.
Another quote about laughter that I adore is from the wise words of the Disney character Goofy, “Ya know why I laugh? A’cuz it’s good for ya!”.
Is laughter contagious or infectious?
Both! A single laugh can quickly spread to others in a room, creating a ripple effect of laughter and cheer. Hearing a single laugh, whether it’s your own or someone else’s, triggers a similar response in the listener.
Furthermore, laughter is contagious. In fact, I am laughing just thinking about it! In my mom’s family, the women are known for having incredible senses of humor, ranging from dry and sarcastic (my mom) to a practical joker (my Nana) or just plain silly (my aunt). On many occasions, the four of us would be up to the wee hours chatting and laughing the night away.
Sometimes, my aunt would go off on what my mom called “a laughing jag.” No words were even said about what she was laughing about, and the rest of us would be in tears, almost wetting our pants over something we didn’t even know what she was laughing about in the first place!
The physiological and biological reason why laughter is contagious is that the sound of a chuckle triggers regions in the premotor cortex of the brain, which are directly involved in moving facial muscles in response to sound.
This phenomenon is known as contagious laughter and is a form of emotional contagion.
According to Psychology Today, “Emotional contagion refers to the phenomenon in which a person unconsciously mirrors or mimics the emotions of those around them. Emotional contagion can be triggered by nonverbals such as facial expressions as well as by overt conversational or behavioral cues: A smile can spread from one person to another, and someone who is complaining can bring someone else down.
People are often unaware of their susceptibility to another’s mood or emotions, and an understanding of this phenomenon can help someone both regulate their own emotions and avoid dampening the moods of others,”.
How about those priceless inside jokes we share with friends? Or, as my kids call them, “funny family stories.” My sons loved to hear those funny family stories! I’d say laughter and a good sense of humor are a family trait and one of my most favorite innate gifts.
The show America’s Funniest Videos has been airing since November 26, 1989, for good reason: we’re laughing at everyday, ordinary people doing normal, silly things that make us laugh. The show’s audience peaked in the 1991-92 TV season, with an average of 25 million viewers per episode —a number well out of reach for most prime-time shows in today’s fragmented TV environment.
What are the positive effects from laughing?
Laughter enhances our intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates the heart, lungs, and muscles, and increases the release of endorphins by the brain. As a result, it activates and relieves the stress response.
A few of us ladies who are close friends with her decided that we would make it a point to visit our recovering friend once a week. We would bring snacks, read books, and mostly, we laughed a lot. Not only was this great for our friend’s mental health, but it sped up her actual physical healing as well.
When we laugh, our brain releases endorphins, the body’s natural mood boosters. As in a cardio session, laughing boosts our respiration and heart rate. In addition, a good laugh ripples through the body, causing muscles to tense and then relax. Here are some of the positive effects laughing has on us humans:
- Improved mood and quality of life
- Reduced stress levels
- Improved immune system
- Reduced pain
- Improved sleep
Laughter assists those who have experienced serious injuries to cope with the psychological and emotional aspects of their experience. It reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety while promoting feelings of joy, happiness, and contentment.
Social benefits of laughter
In conclusion, humor is a wonderful form of communication that conveys ideas and emotions in a non-threatening way; hence, comedians are our best tool for bringing levity to dark situations or times in society.