he positive effects of laughter on physical health have been well documented over the past two decades. Laughter has been found to boost the immune system and reduce the levels of stress hormones. The relationship between laughter and psychological health is less clear. There is some evidence, however, that laughter is positively linked with optimism, self-esteem and social bonding and to the reduction of depression. In addition, humor-induced laughter has been positively associated with a cheerful mood in college students.

What about self-induced laughter? Do we have to wait for something to strike us funny, or can we benefit from spontaneously making ourselves laugh? To investigate this question, I asked a group of Fairleigh Dickinson University students to “laugh hilariously for one minute.” Before and after this brief self-induced laughter episode they rated their mood states. The results indicated that, although they were generally in a positive mood before the experiment, they rated their mood as significantly happier right afterward.

In a follow-up study, I asked another group of FDU students to engage not only in one minute of laughter, but also in one minute of howling and one minute of smiling. Pre- and post-test ratings of mood by the students for each of these activities revealed that the physiological arousal of howling did not put them in a better mood, and smiling produced only a small increase in positive affect. The greatest improvement resulted from the minute of hearty laughter.

It seems that once our brain signals our body to laugh, the body doesn’t care why. It’s going to release endorphins, which trigger a “feel good” mood state.

Can we all benefit from brief periods of self-induced laughter? It may sound strange to sit by yourself and laugh vigorously for a minute but you may want to give it a try once or twice and see for yourself how helpful it can be. In addition to cheering you up, it is likely to relax you, energize you and rejuvenate you. Perhaps this is why laughter clubs are so popular in India and other parts of the world.

Norman Cousins, magazine editor of National Review, once said that laughter is like “inner jogging” — a good workout for the body and soul. Sadie Delaney, one of two New York sisters who lived past 100 and wrote a book about their lives, said, “Life is short, and it’s up to us to make it sweet.” What is sweeter than a good laugh?       more ...

Laughter | Play | Love

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