Social media during the pandemic is not all doom scrolling and despair. Lighter memes have psychological benefits.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Laughter
Displaying 1 - 20 of 23 articles
It may seem strange to seek humour in the face of disaster, but our need to do so is ancient.
Whether in the form of a discreet titter or a full-on roar, laughter comes with many benefits for physical and mental health.
Through his work, the Argentinian cartoonist Joaquin Salvador Lavado Tejon, known to all as Quino, engaged in pointed social critique on a range of topics that are even more relevant today.
One thing that makes the current situation unique is that it is not a single event in a specific place and time. Humour is a coping strategy.
Dads have taken over TikTok since social isolation began. More than a way to kill time at home, laughter and fun dancing times can build family bonds, reduce stress and cultivate a resilient mindset.
With no in-studio audiences, the Laff Box should be used more by comedy shows.
A study of Batek hunter-gatherers from Malaysia shows how laughter can shape our ethical values.
The way you and your partner use humour can shape your relationship, and even break it up.
Why are we so serious about not being too serious? The philosophy of humour has the answer.
We may be living in a golden age of satire, but comedy has always struggled to communicate across political divides. Much of today’s satire may be preaching to the choir.
These professional entertainers are trained and paid to go round hospitals cheer up children with music and laughter.
Have you heard the one about the Victorian sense of humour?
CC BY-ND26.5 MB (download)
In this episode of the podcast, we take in the history of Victorian humour, why kids find poo so hilarious and whether academics should try and be funny.
Laughing at inappropriate moments could be an early sign of dementia, while injury to the front part of the brain could make you lose your sense of sarcasm.
One viral video might leave you in stitches; another leaves you cold. Psychology researchers have worked out several theories of humor to explain why.
From Alfonso the Wise’s bawdy songs of slander to Ronald Reagan’s sunny smile, politics and humor have gone hand-in-hand for centuries. But no one seems to be laughing anymore.
The most famous moment in sports commentary tells us a lot about getting the giggles.
Why do we laugh? Evolutionarily speaking, it’s so we could survive – and similar rules apply today.
We start laughing at around 3 months of age. Women laugh more than men, but blokes tell more jokes. As the Melbourne International Comedy Festival begins, here’s the latest on mirth.
Top contributors
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Senior Lecturer in History, Edge Hill University
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Lecturer in Psychology, Aberystwyth University
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Senior Lecturer in Visual Neuroscience, Western Sydney University
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Professor in Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London
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Honorary Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
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Director, Office of Scholarly Communication and Publishing, University of Pittsburgh
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Professor of Media Studies, Penn State
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PhD Candidate, University of Leeds
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Professor in Professional Education and Leadership, School of Social Sciences, University of Stirling., University of Stirling
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Senior Clinical Lecturer in Child Psychiatry, University of Aberdeen
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PhD Researcher, Nature and Function of Human Nonverbal Vocalisations, University of Sussex
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Professor of Cognitive Psychology, Grinnell College
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Professor of History, Hofstra University
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Professor of Cognitive Psychology, UCL
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Assistant Professor of Psychology, Fort Lewis College
