Only humans laugh {laughter, behavior}| {humor}. Laughter involves mental censors and suppressers.
purposes
Perhaps, laughter is for alliance making.
factors
Humor and laughter can still happen when people suffer, starve, are in pain, or have oppression. Social situation determines laughter quality and quantity. Laughter can interrupt another person's speaking and thinking, and so to take control [Ramachandran, 2004].
animals
Other mammals appear happy. Young chimpanzees puff air when they play, sort of like laughing. Chimpanzees smile when submitting, but not from happiness.
Perhaps, laughter happens if actual situation differs from expected situation {incongruity, laughter}|, but not if situation is too simple or too complex. Expression or perception that deviates from normal thoughts or images, such as something ludicrous, can cause laughter. Laughter happens only if unexpected caused no harm. Perhaps, it only upsets dignity [Ramachandran, 2004].
Perhaps, humor depends on criticizing or disparaging other people and on emotions generated by being in or out of groups {disposition theory}.
Perhaps, laughter happens after relief from physically or psychologically dangerous situation {relief theory}. Most jokes are about possible harm: taboos, injuries, and logical absurdities. Perhaps, laughter happens only if unexpected caused no harm [Ramachandran, 2004].
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Date Modified: 2022.0225