March 28, 2025
“A day without laughter is a day wasted,” said Charlie Chaplin.
Indeed, considering the multiple benefits of a good guffaw, the famed comic actor was seriously onto something.
Humans are the only species with a distinct sense of humor, though our closest relatives, primates, do engage in such behaviors as tickling and mock fighting. If our multiple chuckles per day (17 on average for adults and 300 for children) weren’t enough, an entire day – the first of April – is dedicated to pulling pranks on unsuspecting others.
Funny Facts
- We laugh before we speak. Babies only a few months old can laugh, well before words form.
- While its origins are unclear, April Fool’s Day has been around for almost 500 years.
- Rats are ticklish. (Care to tickle one and find out?)
- Adults between the ages of 18 and 34 laugh more than other age groups.
- Laughter sounds the same across all cultures.
- The most common text abbreviation is LOL (laugh out loud).
Our Sixth Sense
But why do we laugh in the first place? Why do we have a sense of humor?
Given our top-of-the-chain cognitive abilities, humans are capable of abstract thinking and complex problem-solving. Humor, and consequent laughter, relies heavily on recognizing incongruities, ironies and contradictions. A sense of humor also requires multiple perspectives, self-awareness and other nuances that lower species do not possess.
Notably, humans’ use of language is an exceptional component of humor; wordplay, puns and jokes would not exist without it.
The Ties That Bind
Humor strengthens the bonds that bring people together, fostering cooperation, diffusing tension and signaling social understanding. From an evolutionary standpoint, humor may also have played a role in attracting mates (even still today!), a requisite for human survival.
No Joking Matter
Levity carries a lot of weight when it comes to the human experience. Let’s explore some of the ways humor and laughter benefit physical, emotional, social and even cognitive health:
- Better physical health. Laughter stimulates the production of immune cells, helping the body to fend off illness. It also causes blood vessels to dilate, improving circulation, lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. A good belly laugh also burns calories! Consider this from a social work specialist at the University of Kentucky: “Studies from around the world have shown that an atmosphere of humor results in better patient care, less anesthesia time, less operating time and shorter hospital stays.” Laughter really is the best medicine!
- Stress relief, improved mood and pain reduction. Laughing reduces levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline in the system, paving the way for greater relaxation and increased ability to deal with tense situations. Humor boosts endorphins, the “feel good” chemicals in the brain, lessening anxiety and depression. These endorphins also act as natural painkillers, easing both physical and emotional distress.
- Increased resilience. Frequent laughter helps us see the lighter side of difficult situations and cope better with adversity.
- Better sleep. The relaxing effects of laughter help us unwind, releasing tension and lulling us into quality slumber.
- Closer social connections. Shared laughter creates and strengthens relationships by fostering a sense of trust and belonging. As noted above, humor can also make us more attractive to others.
- Improved cognition. Humor taps into the brain’s abstract thinking processes, sparking creativity, problem-solving and cognitive flexibility.
Laughter at Lathrop
At Lathrop, joyful laughter with close friends is in ample, daily supply.
Schedule a tour and see for yourself how healing it can be!