Laughter is ... Definition, types, causes of laughter

Laughter prolongs life. With this statement it is difficult to argue. After all, scientists have long proven that during it a person develops hormones of joy. They help to deal with stress and other psychological and physiological problems. But experts also argue that laughter is a multifaceted phenomenon. There are about a dozen of its species, which are accompanied by polar different emotions. What is the laughter of people? And what are its causes?

Definition

In the scientific world there is a clear definition of such a phenomenon as laughter. This is a person's response to humor, unexpected, pleasant sounds, tactile effects, etc. The manifestation of this reaction consists in an involuntary change in facial expressions and in the movement of the respiratory apparatus.

The study of laughter and its impact on the human body is the division of psychiatry - the science of geology. Since ancient times, philosophers have paid attention to the phenomenon of laughter. Aristotle, E. Kant, A. Bergson made a considerable contribution to the study of its nature. Thus, the correlation of human laughter with friendliness, aggression, illness, game, etc. was revealed. It is proved that there are several kinds of laughter. And each of them has different causes and has different effects on the human body.

Humorous

It is common for an adult to laugh when he sees or hears something funny, absurd, unexpected. It can be a joke, funny sounds or action, grimace of another person. A similar situation is a humorous, or merry laugh. Also in Russian there is a stable expression of "contagious laughter". Indeed, it is worth one person to laugh, like a smile, and laughter appear in others.

Humorous laughter can be open (with the opening of the lips) and closed / restrained (with closed lips). Psychologists say that his character is directly related to personal qualities and circumstances in which a person is. As a rule, open laughter is typical for the family circle, the company of friends, the work collective. He talks about a kind of closeness (kindred or spiritual), warm relations, trust. Closed laughter is the reaction of people who are constrained by certain conditions or norms.

Children's

A special category is children's laughter. It is the spiritual impulse of the child, pure, flowing and enthralling and fun of all around. From the scientific point of view, its causes can be any pleasant and unexpected sounds, funny facial expressions, tactile sensations (tickling). Little children can not read and perceive humor in the form in which it causes positive emotions in adults.

Moreover, experts note that regardless of circumstances and surroundings, children's laughter is the same. This is an open manifestation of joy. It occurs unconsciously and lasts as long as the external effect continues. Thus, the laughter of children is one-stage and is not repeated as a recollection of the situation.

Hysterical

Hysterical laughter has a different nature. It is associated with a person's neuro-psychic overexcitation. Trigger hook is a vivid experience of events that once caused a shock. However, there is no need for illustrative examples. Hysterical laughter begins involuntarily, as an option - when a person becomes hurt, scared or hurt.

This phenomenon does not cause positive emotions in the laughing and surrounding. Rather, it is a mixture of desperation and surprise. By hearing, it is perceived as an intermittent laugh, turning into loud laughter. In case of recurrence of attacks, a person needs medical assistance.

True, there is another interpretation of hysterical laughter. It is understood as unrestrained and prolonged laughter.

Physiological

Physiological laughter is a person's joyful reaction to tactile sensations (tickling), although it can also be a consequence of taking narcotic drugs. It is characterized by openness, involuntaryity and discontinuity. When tickling, it coincides in duration with the duration of the tactile effect. When taking some drugs, the causes of physiological laughter are caused by mental processes. The general mood can be called upbeat, laughter intermittent, superficial, unreasonable. At first glance it resembles hysterical laughter, however it is more prolonged and does not have episodes of nervous shock.

Social

Social people call the laughter of people united by a common idea, the reason for the meeting. A vivid example can be the reaction of listeners of political speeches. This is a general excitement, exultation. Of course, he has similar features with humorous laughter, caused by the audience at concerts by comedians. However, in the first case, there is a spiritual, ideological union of people. An upbeat mood is due to the acquisition of hope and prospects in the future. This is not idle fun, but inspiration. As a rule, this is an open or restrained laughter, accompanied by cheers and applause.

Ritual

Ritual laughter is an artificial, actor's manifestation of joy, hysteria, aggression, fear or other emotions. As a rule, it is used by the actors in the production of comedies or humorous scenes. The main task - that the laughter was as precisely as possible colored by a certain emotion, accompanied by the necessary gestures, facial expressions, and was conveyed to the listener / spectator. Of course, there are many variants of its manifestation. It can be a rude and haughty laugh, open and mocking, cowardly and insinuating, restrained, through teeth or gurgling, soulful.

Pathological

Pathological laughter, as a rule, can be observed in mentally ill people. However, lately, laughter has become increasingly popular, or the treatment of stress and other nervous disorders with laughter. For this, a person for a reason and without it should deliberately laugh a certain period of time. This process can be confused with ritual laughter. However, the goals of these phenomena are different. In the first case, laughter serves as a stimulation of the brain to positive impulses. In the second (ritual) it is necessary to laugh, in order to fulfill the actor's task - to convey emotions corresponding to the action.

Pathological laughter should be open, joyful. As a rule, it has a wavy or avalanche-like structure. That is, it can subside and flare up again. Or maybe from a quiet, artificial phase, go into a sonorous, gurgling, sincere.

Laughter and character

In a deep study of the ways in which laughter was manifested by scientists, its relationship with the character of man was established. Let's share the most interesting observations:

• If a person laughs openly, throwing his head slightly, then, most likely, he has a wide nature. Among its main qualities are credulity, gullibility and the manifestation of momentary emotions.
• If, when laughing, the interlocutor lightly touches his lips with his little finger, he certainly likes to swim in general attention, adheres to good manners and conventions.
• If a person covers his mouth with laughter, then perhaps he is timid. Such an interlocutor is easy to embarrass. He prefers to stay in the shade.
• It can often be noted how people wrinkle their noses when they laugh. Psychologists believe that a similar manner belongs to self-centered and capricious personalities who change their views and feelings about the mood.
• When the interlocutor, with laughter, opens his mouth wide, it is safe to say that this is a mobile, temperamental nature. He is a great orator who, without regard to others, falls into despair.
• And finally, if a person slightly tilts his head before laughing softly, this indicates his kindness, conscientiousness. In life, these are indecisive conformists. It is difficult to guess what they really feel.