10 Surprising Facts About Laughter—Number 9 Might Make You Laugh!

Laughter is an instinctive behavior recognized by people across all cultures. But have you ever wondered why we laugh, what triggers laughter within us, and what research in this field proves about the phenomenal ability ingrained in each person? Here are 10 facts that will completely change the way you view laughter:

The First Fact: What's in Our Subconscious?

The truth is, most people are unaware of this, but laughter has little to do with humor. Instead, it's related to our need for interpersonal connections. Laughter serves as a link between us and others, and that's what our subconscious is signaling to us.

The Second Fact: When Do We Laugh? 

Research shows that when we are in a social setting, our chances of laughing increase by about 35 times compared to when we are alone.

The Third Fact: How Does Someone Else's Laughter Affect Us?

Professor Robert R. Provine, a psychologist, conducted a study to understand what happens within us when we hear someone else's laughter. He concluded that even the most serious person cannot resist someone else laughing.

The Fourth Fact: What Really Makes Us Laugh?

According to Dr. Scott Weems from the University of Maryland, who studied the effects of laughter on our lives for several years and even wrote a scientific book on it, "There is no magic formula or key to what is funny, but generally, we laugh when our brain expects one thing and suddenly gets another."

Dr. Merideth Gattis, a psychologist from Cardiff University, states that our appreciation for the unexpected starts in infancy, albeit at a very basic level. "Parents may notice they can elicit laughter from their baby by making a funny face, speaking in a silly voice, or playing 'peek-a-boo,' for example."

The Fifth Fact: Short and Sweet Outbursts

Most people's laughter tends to occur in short bursts of sounds like 'ha-ha' or 'ho-ho' or 'hee-hee' - repeating every fifth of a second.

The Sixth Fact: Conscious or Subconscious?

Most people cannot laugh on command because laughter is not something we produce consciously.

The Seventh Fact: A Laughter Diet - Yes, It Exists

You might not know, but daily laughter of 10-15 minutes burns up to 40 calories. So, what are you waiting for? Start laughing and shed those unnecessary pounds (and burdens).

The Eighth Fact: How Often Do You Laugh a Day?

Research indicates that an adult laughs between 20 to 25 times a day, whereas for children, this number doubles or even triples.

The Ninth Fact: A Laughter Epidemic - It Exists

You might not be aware, but in 1962, researchers were astonished to discover what is still referred to as the 'Laughter Epidemic of Tanganyika' - which started in a school in Tanzania and spread to an entire village. Local schoolgirls who burst into uncontrollable laughter managed to infect the entire school, leading (believe it or not) to its closure. Although teachers were not affected, returning students infected their village, causing mass hysteria that spread to other schools in the area.

The school where the laughter began was closed for four months, and subsequently, four more schools shut down - ultimately over a thousand people were 'infected' by the laughter epidemic.

The Tenth Fact: Hearts Follow Actions

Good news for those with zero sense of humor: A study conducted in 2002 in the USA found that forcing oneself to laugh or even just smile, even when there is no good reason, significantly boosts one's mood. The human brain cannot distinguish between genuine and spontaneous laughter and self-induced laughter.